Whatever happened to damage control?

Indonesia's image and reputation both abroad and within the country has been severely damaged by many events and factors including: forest fires, huge foreign debts, monetary crisis, deaths due to famine, sporadic riots, corruption, collusion, lack of transparency, questions of security and stability, inconsistent and slow government responses, political blunders, soaring basic food staple prices etc.

The consequences are very serious. People are beginning to doubt the government's ability and commitment to handle our current crisis. Tourism has declined significantly. Tourists are choosing to spend their time and money in our neighboring countries for fear of environmental and security risks and contracting diseases.

Pictures of people queuing for food, pictures of famine, contagious diseases, forest fires, demonstrations, riots, and other negative events dominate the foreign media including foreign TV and newspapers.

Foreign investment has declined significantly, if not to practically nothing, and many small Indonesian companies have closed down due to lack of capital, poor liquidity and stiff competition.

Yet nobody seems to be attempting damage control in regard to the image and reputation of our nation as a way of preventing further decline of our economic status.

Damage control is a very important in reshaping a tarnished public image. It is frequently restored to by companies and governments when their public image takes a battering due to critical events. I am suggesting the government should begin damage control activities both abroad and within the country as follows:

* Weekly radio talk by the President to address the nation regarding constructive activities undertaken by the government to deal with the current crisis. We would like to see that our President is in charge, strong, healthy and responsive to public needs.

* Weekly meeting with the media by the Minister of Information or his designee to inform the media about government activities and to conduct a dialog with the media.

* Public activities by diplomats abroad to correct public misperceptions about our current affairs and to improve our image abroad.

* Conducting dialogs with important and eminent figures in society to exchange ideas and thoughts regarding our current economic and political situation.

* Using the media such as TV and the newspapers to project better images of the government and the country.

K. PRIBADI

Cimahi, West Java