On reporting about Africans

On reporting about Africans

I have been dismayed with the consistently negative and racist
bias you have in reporting about Africans in Indonesia.

For example, in the news item entitled Zimbabwean, Indonesian
nabbed with heroin, published on Dec. 14, 1999 on your City page,
you portray a negative image of Africans just because a guy from
Zimbabwe was arrested on a drug-related offense. You quote an
official as saying "If you look around now holding the arms of
many African men are Indonesian girls ..." To me this is
irresponsible reporting that tries to portray Africans as drug
dealers who take advantage of innocent Indonesian girls.

I hope you understand the potential danger of such reckless
reporting to many innocent Africans living and traveling in
Indonesia and benefiting the country through export trade to
their home countries.

I urge you to be objective and professional in your reporting
about Africans in a style worthy of a paper such as yours.

MICHAEL HAILU

Jakarta

Note: We agree that many Africans here have become good brothers
to us. But police records since 1997 have revealed another story
of some people from Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. The week before
last alone, Jakarta police detained at least two Africans -- a
Zimbabwean and a Liberian, also for drug case. Much more, hotel
and motel operators on Jl. Jaksa have reportedly closed their
doors for any Africans, we repeat, Africans due to such image.

-- Editor