'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)