Media besieged by nationalist zealots

Media besieged by nationalist zealots

Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, Sociologist, Jakarta

The performance of and controversy over journalists in the
context of the Aceh war and what they experience brings to mind
the words of the historian H. Julien Benda who in 1927 wrote The
betrayal of the intellectuals. Journalists are one of the
components of the intelligentsia, a group which believes,
according to Benda, that "our kingdom is not in this world."

The media reconstructs war scenes from moment to moment so
that the mindset of society is formed. Therefore, journalists
constitute some of the main actors in formatting the judgment,
thought and action of laymen, soldiers and the other
intellectuals -- like cultural observers and ulema --
particularly regarding Aceh. The testimony of journalists about
the various events in the Aceh war makes them strategic figures
to be placed under control -- if not domination -- by the warring
parties and those with political, economic and cultural interests
in this war.

Journalists are subject to "provocation" by various parties
involved in the war. Among this type of provocation is the sort
emanating from intellectuals of this post-New Order era. Unlike
intellectuals in the past, who were very critical of the regime's
policies, "post-reform" intellectuals tend to be "embedded" in
the regime or are also among the political actors.

These intellectuals, as portrayed by Benda, are those
overwhelmingly imbued with worldly or nationalistic political
zeal.

In this case, the Aceh war has been turned into an arena to
split society into nationalists and traitors to the nationalist
cause. It is an arena to attain practical aims by strange
justifications, out of hatred toward separatism and a fascist-
like obsession with state integrity.

The result is a failure to anticipate the effect of the war on
civilians, including those who uphold human rights and are
enthusiastic about building a democratic political system.

In this condition the state has become idolatrously worshiped
with the sacrifice of innocent people's blood. Such "embedded"
intellectuals would tell journalists head on, that press freedom
should be given up to help the nation gain victory in this war --
the result being the alienation of the Acehnese.

Similar to such intellectuals, the military points to reports
which lack nationalism and even "side with the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM)". And among the public, a recent magazine poll revealed
that 56.4 percent of respondents also considered the press to be
overtly partial to GAM. Actually what has happened is that
journalists have quoted TNI representatives about a certain event
and then they also exposed the testimony of victims. The intense
military propaganda has successfully formed laymen's opinions as
reflected in a poll that 56.4 percent of them consider
journalists to be on GAM's side.

Such views make us understand the reason behind attacks on
journalists and rights activists -- nationalist zeal. The
attackers on the office of the Commission for Missing Persons and
Victims of Violence (Kontras) in May claimed to be offspring of
retired military members, thus implying that vocal opposition to
the war ran contrary to the stance of their parents, perceived to
be among the founders and defenders of the republic. Thus one
sees the simple view of history for the sake of one party being
capable of holding the strongest claim over nationalism.

Indonesian journalists are being besieged by the above three
factors -- "provocation" by "nationalist" intellectuals, the
threats of the military and the condemnation of members of the
public. The principle that applies here is that nationalism,
rather than morality, determines war.

Journalists with a conscience have expressed their feelings in
covering the war. One of them e-mailed a colleague: "My coverage
from Aceh that reached you is obviously no longer accurate. It's
no longer a firsthand report and it has been no doubt spiced up
with heroism ..." In another case revealing difficulties in
covering this war, civilian witnesses have been questioned by the
military a day after a report included the words of the
witnesses, which were "twisted" by the editor, according to a
journalist of the paper.

In another case, a private TV producer and journalist was
eventually dismissed, reportedly in connection with reports on
Aceh, which suggest how the station's chief editor ignores the
responsibility for programs produced by his journalists, who are
left to face the risks alone from parties unhappy with the
reports. However, the management has claimed that he was not
promoted following assessment of his contract.

Therefore journalists have the potential to become part of the
chain of intellectuals, the warring parties and the public who
fear the exposure of the truth for the sake of their respective
"nationalistic" interests. This is made possible, as Benda
writes, by worship of an overtly militaristic spirit and a brutal
instinct for war.