Stop New Order-style violence
Stop New Order-style violence
From Neraca
Government Watch very much regrets the violence and intimidation which the reporters and staff of Jawa Post were subject to on May 6, 2000, in Surabaya. The New Order-style violence committed by members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)'s Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor) of Surabaya will tarnish and lower the credibility of President Abdurrahman Wahid's leadership. The spirit of reform, which has paved the way for the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression, and also placed the law and the judiciary in their proper places, will die out if criticism of President Abdurrahman, NU officials and ulema are responded to with violence, intimidation and mass mobilizations.
The principle of a free press is balanced reporting, meaning covering both sides of a story and the use of the right to reply, a principle which should be followed by every party in responding to the contents of and criticisms originating in mass media reports. The violence targeting Mi'ing for his TV show, Rakyat Merdeka daily for its caricatures and the Jawa Pos for its report on alleged graft in NU is of alarming concern to us, because our top political figures have turned out to be incapable of controlling their followers to ensure the principles of differences of opinion, democracy and the law are honored.
The peaceful settlement of cases in a court of law should always be the preferred solution for government officials, political parties and mass organizations in responding to the contents of mass media reports.
It would be good if the chairman of the central board of Nahdlatul Ulama and the central board of GP Ansor settled this Rp 35 billion case by summoning all parties involved, i.e. relevant personnel from Bulog, the mass media, the President's private assistant, M. Soewondo, and relevant personnel from the presidential office.
Intimidation and violence in the style of the mass organizations that supported former president Soeharto for 32 years should have been abandoned by the administration of Abdurrahman, Mega, Amien and Akbar. It is also time to abandon the model of military-style civilian organizations, because it is not in keeping with attempts by the government and political parties to build a professional military which not only commands respect, but also protects the people.
FARID R. FAQIH
Coordinator of
Gowa-Government Watch
Jakarta