Protection for journalists

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