Perspektif
Perspektif
I read Wimar Witoelar's letter which appeared in The Jakarta
Post on Oct. 9, 1995 entitled Perspektif banning. On the same day
I read in Kompas that there will be a new program called
Perspektif Life. I am very happy to read the article, because it
gives (a select group of) people the opportunity to think
critically, and to become involved citizens.
As a response to Witoelar's letter in The Jakarta Post, I have
the following comments.
Usually I do not write or respond to newspaper articles. I
have lived in Europe and the U.S. the past 21 years. I came back
to Indonesia only eight months ago, and by chance I watched your
program when you interviewed Mr. Emil Salim. I remember one
question you had for him was: Apakah ada keterbukaan dalam media
sekarang? (Is there any openness in the media now?). His answer
was: Buktinya sekarang ada program Perspektif yang tidak mungkin
beberapa tahun yang lalu (Why, the Perspektif program is clear
evidence of its existence, which was not possible several years
ago). To my regret, someone has pulled the plug on you.
I watched Larry King on CNN almost everyday when I was in the
States. His program could be controversial sometimes, but it was
never a "bid deal" to me. America is such a democratic country
that nothing is shocking anymore. I watched your program only
twice, and both times it made a great impact on me. Your program
should be called Different Perspective because you try to expose
what is not openly discussed in public.
Unlike Larry King's programs in the USA, it seems that the
general public in Indonesia is not ready for such a blatant and
straight-forward approach. The way your program was taken off air
reminds me of an expert surgeon performing an amputation: swift
and relatively painless. All of a sudden you notice that your
legs are missing. Somebody "up-there" feels threatened, and that
person knows how to pull the strings.
With Perspektif Life you have a more select and educated
audience. Hopefully you can continue to be yourself, and have
interesting sessions. After the general election in 1997, I think
you will have a better feel whether or not you can re-start
Perspektif on The Air.
PIUS FIRMAN
Jakarta