Press freedom hampers RI diplomacy: Former ambassadors

JAKARTA (JP): The country's newfound freedom of the press has merely weakened Indonesian diplomacy abroad, former ambassadors said during a one-day seminar here on Wednesday.

Former Indonesian ambassador to Australia S. Wiryono Sastrohandoyo said the media now only sold sensational and negative news.

"The media tends to be sensational and obtrusive, and focuses on negative points. We often feel that the 'openness' of the media has lead to vulgar and exaggerated coverage, which is, in fact, unnecessary," Wiryono, who was also an ambassador to France, said.

He admitted, however, that the country's current uncertainties also helped to create a diplomatic conundrum.

"If the fact is bad, how we can 'sell' it. You just can't change the image (that easily)," Wiryono remarked.

The seminar on Mass Media, Public Opinion and Public Diplomacy was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Djafar H. Assegaf, former Indonesian ambassador to Vietnam, said the Indonesian media had done little in promoting national interests to counter "foreign attacks". "This has not benefited our diplomacy."

"It happens many times that the media gives 'bullets' (to foreign attackers) to shoot (the country)," he said.

Assegaf, who is currently the chief editor of Media Indonesia daily, said most media now reported negative and sensational news.

He also accused non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of playing a significant role in disrupting Indonesian diplomacy.

"The world is full of bad reports and negative news about the country. I would not say the media and NGOs have never done anything good for the country, but negative reports about the country have obstructed Indonesian diplomacy abroad.

"Improving Indonesian's image is a difficult public relations activity," he said.

Assegaf closed his address by voicing his preference for the authoritarian regime of former president Soeharto to the current democratic administration, which lacks law and order.

Fikri Jufri, general manager of Tempo weekly magazine, jokingly responded to this by shouting "Longe live Soeharto".

Tempo was banned twice during the Soeharto era for exercising "its freedom".

According to Fikri, it was time for Indonesian envoys to prove themselves to be professional diplomats.

"What you did during Soeharto's era was, by all means, much easier than what you are doing now. It's time to demonstrate your diplomatic skills for the country."

Tempo chief editor Bambang Harymurti said diplomats should be more creative in "selling" Indonesia abroad in response to the negative media reports.

"The diplomats could, for example, explain to their foreign counterparts that Indonesia would become the third largest democracy in the world and the largest democratic Muslim country in the world if it succeeds in its current democratic transition," he said. (jun)