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)