Press told 'handle riots with care'

Press told 'handle riots with care'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on senior Indonesian
journalists yesterday to handle stories about unrest with care.

"Whether in news stories or commentaries, care must be taken
so as not to give the impression that an act of rioting is a
legitimate process," Soeharto said during a meeting with
Indonesia's top media executives at the State Palace.

"Care must be taken to ensure accurate news data.

"Inaccurate data, especially on something so sensitive, could
have big implications at home and abroad," he said.

The President officially opened a 10-day Pancasila ideology
course yesterday for 69 top mass media executives. The "Manggala"
course, organized by the government, is given to people in
leadership positions from all walks of life and professions.

The course for senior journalists, which proceeded yesterday
in nearby Bogor, will look at the policies and strategies
involved in ushering the nation into the dawning of the free
trade era.

The President underscored journalists' position in society
because of their direct access in molding public opinion.

"The mass media are not solely passive recorders of facts and
events. They have a mission to convey perspectives, judgments and
opinions that are appropriate," he said.

"In discharging their tasks, the mass media should not only
search for objective truths, but process them with critical
analysis to guide society to look to the future," he said.

A society as diverse as Indonesia has many problems, which if
not handled carefully, could spark riots, Soeharto said.

"Riots can make interesting stories, but not a single problem
will be solved through rioting," he said.

He made no specific reference to the riot in Central Jakarta
on July 27, or any other incidents of unrest.

The President underlined the need for journalists to have a
"clean, clear and free from fear" attitude as well as freedom to
produce the best possible analysis and judgments.

"In discharging their tasks, they have to have a sense of
responsibility. This is why we need a code of ethics."

Soeharto referred to the various existing opinions on the
results of national development and the way it had been
conducted.

"There are positive and constructive opinions that not only
indicate appreciation for the progress we have achieved, but also
give various alternatives to the problems we are facing.

"There are also critical opinions that look at the
shortcomings and weaknesses. Some of them give alternatives and
some do not. But overall, they are positive.

"But there are also opinions in society that are critical and
destructive, some limited to accusations and others inciting
people to start rioting. There are also those who openly reject
everything that we have built slowly with care since 1966,"
Soeharto said.

The President encouraged the senior journalists to use the
opportunity offered by the course to help formulate the nation's
policy and strategy in dealing with free trade.

He said one of the biggest challenges facing Indonesia is the
skill of the nation's entrepreneurs.

"Their number is quite big, but not all of them are capable of
taking advantage and dealing with the threats (that come with the
free trade era)."

It is these people who will need help, lest they fall behind
in a free market competition, he said.

Soeharto said that in tapping the opportunities offered by
free trade, Indonesia will have to compete with other developing
countries. "Everyone will strive to sell high-quality products at
the cheapest possible prices. That means there will be very stiff
competition," he said. (emb)