Reporter's life worth Rp 5 million

JAKARTA (JP): What's a reporter's life worth these days?

Rp 5 million, or just over US$2,000, is how much members of the Association of Indonesian Journalists' (PWI) Jakarta chapter are insured for.

All members and their families could buy life insurance policies with state-owned PT Jasaraharja Putera, the chapter said Saturday.

An agreement to that effect was signed by the association's chairman, Tarman Azzam, and Jasaraharja's president director, Tabrani Toha.

For an annual premium of Rp 10,000, a reporter or any member of his or her family is entitled to receive up to Rp 5 million in case of death or permanent disability resulting from accidents. They are also entitled to up to Rp 2 million for hospital treatment.

Tarman said journalists faced increasing challenges in providing timely and accurate information, and this was exposing them to even greater risks of accident.

In the past year, a journalist in Yogyakarta was beaten to death. Another, in Dili, East Timor, was beaten by a mob and hospitalized.

Journalists covering the election have been given life insurance by the parties whose campaigns they are covering. (06)