Marzuki slams journalists for rights violations

Marzuki slams journalists for rights violations

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian journalists had their knuckles rapped
yesterday when leading human rights activist Marzuki Darusman
accused them of violating people's rights in their reports.

In a discussion on press coverage and human rights promotion
here yesterday, Marzuki listed numerous rights violations
committed by journalists when they reported in ways that showed
disrespect for human existence.

He said "dehumanization," "depersonalization," "demonization,"
"stigmatization" and "demoralization" were violations committed
in press reports.

He cited a journalist's report on a hearing of the House of
Representatives with officials, which listed only the names of
government officials and failed to mention the names of the
legislators.

"This is not trivial. The journalist has disregarded human
existence, which is at the core of human rights. It's
depersonalization, dehumanization," said Marzuki, who is deputy
chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights.

He said some journalists were inclined to use words which
"punished a suspect still being tried".

"It's 'demonization'," he said, pointing out press reports
could made a person seem evil.

He cited press reports on Budiman Sudjatmiko, the chairman of
the Democratic People's Party currently on trial for his alleged
involvement in the July 27 riots. The press often described him
as the "brain" behind the riots.

He argued that this connoted Budiman was responsible and as
such deserved punishment, something which should not be meted
out, particularly by the press, as Budiman was still on trial.

Marzuki cited the use of the word "problematic" when referring
to non-governmental organizations known for their critical stance
on government policies, as another example of irresponsible
reporting.

"What do you mean by 'problematic," he said.

He acknowledged, however, that journalists were not the only
parties using degrading words. The government and the public used
similar expressions.

Marzuki explored the causes of journalists' mistakes. One
factor was the journalists' inability to free themselves from the
"the government's hegemony of meaning," he said.

He also said the journalists lacked creativity, were unable to
invent their own terminology and had to resort to using
officials' expressions.

The Javanese expression mbalelo (dissidents) is an example of
a high-ranking government official's utterance that the press has
picked up and used frequently. "That particular word belongs to
and is frequently used by the 'established,'" Marzuki said,
suggesting journalists refrained from mimicking such expressions.

Marzuki finally challenged journalists to think. "I really
want to know how journalists think (that makes them commit those
violations)," he said. (03)