Mob, bribery are press enemies

Mob, bribery are press enemies

YOGYAKARTA: Bribery and the use of mobs are nemeses of the
free press in the current reform era, the Indonesian Journalists
Alliance (AJI) branch here said.

In its statement which marked its second anniversary on
Friday, the journalists said the two enemies "have threatened the
media's freedom and independence."

It blamed the low income most journalists are earning and lack
of appreciation of their work for their vulnerability to bribes.

"We even find some reporters who do not receive any
compensation at all from their employer, except for the press
cards which they use to seek money," the statement said.

Mass violence is another terror of the press, it added,
referring to the attack in early May of Surabaya-based daily Jawa
Pos by Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization's civilian guards over
alleged defamation. (44/edt)