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)