Top ASEAN journalists pledge cooperation

The Jakarta Post, Jimbaran, Bali

A number of prominent editors of leading media institutions of the Southeast Asian member countries have pledged to set up a joint force and to formulate a concept of cooperation among journalists in the region to promote freedom of the press and to help build a more open and democratic civil society.

In a recommendation presented to President Megawati Soekarnoputri on the sidelines of the 9th ASEAN Leaders Summit in Nusa Dua on Monday, the editors said that it was urgent to establish a forum through which journalists throughout the region can better interact with each other to further develop a sense of regional community and provide support for each other when faced with challenges to their freedom as journalists.

The recommendation addressed two crucial issues. The first concern is the lack of a true sense of an ASEAN community. In an integrated world, it is imperative that the people of ASEAN forge a stronger sense of community in order to better be able to work together to promote common interests in dealing with the rest of the world.

The second concern is the need to preserve and enhance the right of journalists to practice their profession, as too often in certain countries of the region, journalists have been subjected to harassment, coercion and death threats in the practice of their profession.

Before meeting with the President, around 60 senior editors from leading media institutions from the 10-member ASEAN gathered in Kuta.

Initiated by the Jakarta's Editors Club, it is hoped that the gathering could establish a strong network and provide sources for any party eager to learn any subject related to the ASEAN region.

During the welcome dinner at Jimbaran on Sunday night, Santo Pudjomartono, one of the Club's founders, shared his view that it was necessary at this crucial juncture for the media to play a stronger role in every meeting or summit of the ASEAN member countries and their partners.

"At present, the media plays a passive role, only covering and reporting the meetings and events," maintained Soesanto.

Yuli Ismartono, senior editor of Tempo magazine, added that in the past media in each country worked alone, separated from its counterparts in the neighboring countries.

"And therefore, there is a wide gap between most of us in terms of gathering information, press freedoms and other aspects of the media and its relationship with government and society," Yuli explained.

The level of press freedom, for example, is different in every country.

In order to eliminate or at least narrow the wide gap, she suggested that the media in the region stand together and regularly hold meetings to keep up with the development in each member country.

"We are trying to establish a basis for building a civil society. Any decision should not come from just one source like the government or the business community," Soesanto said

The media should strive to serve as a source of information that can provide the necessary input for all decision makers, he concluded.