Protection for journalists

As the present century approaches its end, journalism and other work related to journalism are showing alarming signs of becoming high-risk pursuits. This may sound strange as we are on the verge of entering an era of information, which has become a basic need for modern man. Yet in Indonesia, acts of violence against journalists are occurring with increasing frequency.

The government has so far done little to protect journalists against unlawful and degrading acts committed by state security officers. There is much, however, which the Indonesian Journalists' Association can do for journalists who are doing their jobs.

Compiling records of journalists' names and addresses, however, is not enough. Complete journals must be made of all the acts of violence suffered by journalists, either while they are doing their professional duties or afterwards as a consequence of those duties. The public and security officers must be educated to realize the fact that in this era of information, modern man cannot do without information.

Aside from all this, the manner in which journalists are treated provides a yardstick for the level of our legal awareness, for the quality of democracy in this country and even for how civilized our society is. We must all be aware of the fact that for information to be effective, a positive attitude is needed so it may be accessed by as many people as possible in as many regions as possible.

-- Merdeka, Jakarta