TNI holds second journalist training

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sixty more journalists from numerous media will train with the Indonesian Military (TNI) to receive their go-ahead in covering the military operation against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) as embedded journalists.

The journalists, the second batch to undergo training with the TNI since the onset of the war in Aceh, are to take a four-day course on basic military training and first aid, pared down to accommodate varying physical abilities. It has also been reported that the training will include how to cover the war from the nationalistic perspective.

Training is to commence on Sunday at the Sanggabuana military training field in Karawang, Bekasi, east Jakarta.

The first training program was held from May 11 to May 15, in which 50 journalists from numerous printing and electronic media participated. The program drew criticisms from numerous sides who accused TNI of encouraging embedded journalists to write stories in favor of the military.

Col. Nachrowi, the officer in charge of the training course, said on Tuesday that the course was aimed at providing journalists with basic survival skills in a war zone, and denied allegations that journalists were taught how to cover the conflict.

"The training is mainly aimed at helping the journalists protect themselves, as they will be reporting from the battlefield," Nachrowi told The Jakarta Post.

This is the first time the TNI has allowed local journalists working for foreign media to join the training.

"We see domestic media as our top priority, but after evaluating the first training program, we are now pleased to include foreign media," he said.

Now entering its third week, the TNI plans to continue its military operation until the end of this year. So far, about 120 people have been killed, the majority of which are alleged to be GAM members, and almost 20,000 others have been displaced. Hundreds of schools and houses have also been burned down in the conflict.

The TNI has pledged that they would not harm civilians, amid growing calls from the international community for both the military and the GAM to protect Acehnese civilians.

Meanwhile, after an internal investigation, seven soldiers are being charged for allegedly beating civilians and face trial by a military tribunal. The trial of three soldiers began yesterday.

It is the first time since war began in Aceh on May 19 that the military has openly admitted to human rights abuses in the country's northernmost province.