Press protests TNI bias for 'SCTV'

Press protests TNI bias for 'SCTV'

Journalists who are based in Lhokseumawe boycotted on
Wednesday a press briefing at the military operation center in
protest over unfair treatment they received from military
operation commander Brig. Gen. Bambang Darmono.

No journalists turned up for the daily morning and afternoon
press briefings at the military operation center on Wednesday,

The protest followed the surrender of American journalist
William Nessen to the military on Tuesday, which was exclusively
covered by private television station SCTV.

All journalists were given a tip-off earlier that day that
Bambang would pick up Nessen. The freelancer had defied a
deadline set by the military to leave the rebel base.

Journalists were preparing themselves for the much-awaited
surrender at the military operation command, when Bambang
prevented them from going with him to the meeting point with
Nessen in Paya Dua village, Nisam district.

The journalists became even more disappointed after they later
learned that Bambang gave the chance to SCTV to cover the event.

A journalist who requested anonymity said it was not the first
time that Bambang gave SCTV reporters preferential treatment. --
JP