Privileged newsmen must work harder

JAKARTA (JP): Only 571 journalists were privileged to witness the historic declaration of the establishment of a free trade area in APEC in Bogor yesterday.

They were selected out of some 4,000 accredited APEC journalists by the host nation committee in view of the limited space in the palace compound.

Staff of the committee's Press and News Agency Division said 149 Indonesian journalists, 353 international journalists, including 22 from non-APEC member countries, and 69 international news agency reporters, were selected for Bogor.

But with the privilege came responsibility too.

They're the ones who had to work and file the story. And, this is what the selected few most complained about yesterday, they had to get up early and they had a long wait.

There was only one way of gaining entry to the palace and that was by special buses provided by the host committee. That meant the journalists had to report to the Jakarta Convention Center, where the host committee set up office at 4.30 a.m.

Thirty buses were reserved for the them.

Then there was the long wait. The leaders didn't arrive until 9 a.m.

But they were pampered by the host committee.

On arrival, there was a free of charge breakfast providing western and local fares waiting for them.

In the Bogor Palace compound there was also a buffet serving Indonesian and foreign food at the tent set up as part of the media center.

Then the journalists had to wait yet again for five and half hours before the leaders concluded the meeting and came up with the declaration.

To fill in time, the host committee provided cultural entertainment for them. (mds/pwn)