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