Govt defends move on Aussie correspondent

Govt defends move on Aussie correspondent

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia defended on Monday its move not to renew an Australian
correspondent's journalist visa, insisting that the decision was
merely based on a "technical consular matter" and was in no way a
harbinger to stricter control of foreign media here.

The Indonesian foreign ministry lamented in a statement the
presentation of the events that unfolded involving the Sydney
Morning Herald and The Age correspondent Lindsay Murdoch, saying
that it was misrepresentation of the facts.

It regretted a joint statement issued by two Australian
newspapers which "exaggerated and overpoliticized" an issue which
was "truly technical in nature".

"The Indonesian government trusts that this misrepresentation
of facts will not influence public trust, both international and
domestic, on the strong desire and political commitment of the
government and the people of Indonesia to guarantee press
freedom."

The government, through the foreign ministry, refused to
further extend Murdoch's visa which initially expired on March
10, effectively rendering his ability to work as a journalist
here void.

Murdoch, 48, worked here for three years. His visa initially
expired on Dec. 10 and was extended for three months.

The two publications he works for claim the move was due to
Murdoch's "authoritative reporting", a suggestion which has been
countered by the foreign ministry.

Jakarta says that there had been an understanding with
Fairfax, publisher of the two newspapers, in December that a new
correspondent would be sent and the three-month extension was to
accommodate the arrival of the journalist to be based here.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post, foreign ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa stressed that the issue was in no way related to an
editorial matter.

He pointed out that Murdoch had not been banned from Indonesia
and had in fact returned here on a business visa.

Marty said that while "we may disagree on many of the things
he has written" as long as it is accurate and heeds to
journalistic ethics it is still acceptable.

He brushed off suggestions of tight media scrutiny, both of
foreign correspondents and local reporters, saying that it was in
Indonesia's best interests to maintain coverage. Both newspapers
are free to nominate a new correspondent here.

But the government has resisted revealing the reason for the
decision.

The lack of transparency has been further affirmed by defiant
remarks that "there is no obligation for any country to explain
the reasons for issuing or not issuing a visa".

Still it is of little comfort to local and foreign journalists
when the government can take excessive measures against the press
without transparent grounds.

Sources have suggested that the decision, which was taken by
an interdepartmental committee, was influenced by military
elements who were upset with Murdoch.

International media watchdog Reporters San Frontiers was one
of those who suggested on Monday that this was "the first
evidence" that elements of the military were pressuring the
government to crack down on press freedom.

"We hope it will be the first and the last case," Vincent
Brossel of the Paris-based group said as quoted by AFP.