'Pelita' warned over inflammatory report
'Pelita' warned over inflammatory report
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Information has issued a stern
warning to Pelita daily newspaper over articles suggesting that
most high school girls in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, have lost
their virginity, Antara reported yesterday.
The articles, which appeared in the April 27 and April 28
editions of Pelita, could incite religious tension and stir anger
among the Torajan people, the news agency said quoting the May 22
letter of reprimand signed by Director General of Press and
Graphics Subrata.
The reports, quoting a local Moslem leader, have prompted
strong protests in Tana Toraja in the past week. The protesters
were targeting the Moslem preacher, rather than the newspaper.
The predominantly Christian area, located in the northern part
of South Sulawesi, is famous for its death ritual ceremonies that
have made it one of Indonesia's most popular tourist
destinations.
The Moslem preacher, according to the article, alleged that
sexual promiscuity is the norm among Torajan high school girls,
and that many of them were sleeping with foreign tourists.
Subrata said Pelita's initial report, titled 96 percent of
High School Students no Longer Virgins was not based on facts, or
any study, and violated the code of ethics of the journalistic
profession.
The newspaper has already retracted the offending articles and
issued a public apology to the people of Tana Toraja for the
furor the reports created.
While acknowledging the steps already taken by the newspaper,
Subrata said in his letter that he regretted having to issue the
stern warning to Pelita for its negligence.
The warning should make the newspaper more careful in writing
its stories in the future and spare the government from having
taken an action "none of us want to see", he said.
The government has the power to revoke the publishing license
of newspapers considered to have made grave errors. In June 1994,
the government revoked the licenses of three magazines, including
Tempo newsweekly, either for their editorial content, or for
wrongful administrative procedures.
Usually, a publication is allowed three warnings before it
loses its license.
Subrata said under the professional code of ethics,
journalists must always consider the impact of their articles on
the unity and cohesion of the nation before deciding on whether
or not to print the story. Journalists, he pointed out, must not
offend the feelings of religious communities.
The code also states that journalists should ensure the
accuracy of their news and check the credibility and competence
of their sources, he said.
Journalists must also refrain from writing articles that are
misleading, incorrect, slanderous, obscene, sadistic and
sensational, he added. (emb)