Police and the media

Although it is always wise to interpret media polls and statistics with a good dose of suspicion, poll findings aired by Jakarta-based television station Metro-TV during the week deserve our attention.

According to the poll, no less than 79 percent of respondents are of the opinion that police should clamp down on unruly or violent street protesters or use "repressive" methods, to quote the term used by the station, in confronting uncontrollable demonstrators. Only 16 percent of respondents wanted the authorities to take a more persuasive approach, while the remainder were indifferent.

The poll came hot on the heels of Jakarta's bloody clash that occurred between police and demonstrators on Monday, when hundreds of anti-American protesters from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the Surakarta Indonesian Islamic Youth Front (FPII), Laskar Jundullah (God's Army) and the Hizbullah Front vented their anger over the British-U.S. attacks in Afghanistan in front of the House of Representatives building in Central Jakarta. The protesters repeated their earlier demand that Indonesia sever diplomatic relations with the U.S..

After requests that protesters disband peacefully remained unheeded, police fired warning shots into the air. As this too failed to disperse the crowd, officers were forced to try to push back the protesters with batons, water cannons, tear gas and blank bullets. One officer reportedly ran into the fleeing crowd with his motorcycle. Dozens of people were reportedly injured and 12 protesters were arrested.

Worse still, officers also attacked a number of journalists covering the incident. One television cameraman was reportedly beaten up and forced to surrender his footage as he was filming a police officer damaging a car.

Considering all this excessive force on the part of the police, how are we to explain the public's desire that the authorities clamp down forcefully on unruly protests? One explanation that seems to accurately describe the public mood in Jakarta and in other major cities in the country is that the average Indonesian has reached his fill of the endless demonstrations that do nothing but push the country ever closer to bankruptcy. The point of saturation has been reached.

It is necessary, however, to remind our police officers of their commitment to reform and transform the National Police from the military-styled apparatus it was in the past into one that is fully professional and capable of protecting the people. True, it is difficult for an ordinary person to control their temper in the face of insults, obscenities and verbal abuse thrown about by crass street demonstrators. Nevertheless, doing just that is a skill that professional riot police officers must somehow learn to acquire.

As for the media, especially the electronic media, it is important that they use their newly acquired freedom with good judgment and wisdom and that they put the picture in proper perspective. Under present circumstances, it is difficult to challenge the growing impression among the public that the media is giving a disproportionate picture of what is actually going on in Indonesia.

Last but not least, it may be well worth the effort to investigate speculation of possible "masterminds" manipulating protests these days. After all, such demonstrations don't just happen.