Juwono lashes out at private television stations

Juwono lashes out at private television stations

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono criticized
the way TV stations exposed social conflicts at home, saying the
fierce competition among them has worsened the disputes.

"The way TV stations, such as RCTI, SCTV and ANteve, have
presented their (flagrant) coverage have frequently provoked the
situation in the field. This has happened in their coverage of
the recent violence in Aceh, West Kalimantan and other
provinces," he was quoted by Antara as addressing Indonesian
citizens in New York on Friday.

Also attending the meeting were Consul General I Gusti Ngurah
Swetja and Makmur Widodo, deputy ambassador to UN.

Juwono said openness and freedom of the press were the cost
democracy has to pay.

But the cost was too expensive, with tension intensifying
following news and comments broadcast by TV stations which are
enjoying the freedom of the press, he said.

"Comments given by political observers have worsened the
social conflicts. Politicians' rhetoric has incited their own
supporters to attack each other," he said, referring to TV talk
shows and political debate programs.

He said that in his capacity as defense minister, he could do
nothing, but regretted those programs.

"Do they (TV stations) not imagine the possible impact of such
coverage to human lives in the conflict areas?," he questioned.

The minister said President Abdurrahman Wahid was also deeply
concerned with the way the TV stations covered the conflicts and
he has expressed such a concern on several occasions, including
in a recent seminar in the Borobudur Hotel.

"But, no TV stations or print media have exposed the
president's concern," he said.

He said that despite the openness, print and electronic media
should bear in mind their responsibility for the nation in
carrying out their coverage. (rms)