Press freedom hampers RI diplomacy: Former ambassadors
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)