Why conflicting reports?

We read newspapers to get correct information about what is going on. We expect to be satisfied and overcome doubts caused by unconfirmed reports on all kinds of issues, which adds to the existing confusion in people's minds. But unfortunately, newspapers are often not accurate or sometimes publish contradictory news items. The board of editors are not doing enough or are negligent in controlling what is printed in their papers to avoid creating confusion among their readers.

In the Angkatan Bersenjata daily of July 3, 1997, I read a statement from State Minister of National Development Planning/ Chairman of the National Development Planning Board Ginandjar Kartasasmita, saying that Indonesia has not yet decided whether to buy Russian military equipment, although Indonesia considers Russia a potential source of military equipment products (page XII).

But, to my surprise, I read on the front page of the same paper that the Indonesian Navy is going to buy Russian warships. These two contradictory reports raise questions in my mind. Is the Indonesian Navy an independent organization outside the Indonesian government? Does it have the authority to buy things despite the fact the government has not yet decided what to do, or perhaps the warships do not belong to military armament? Or did these conflicting statements result from a lack of government coordination?

This is not the first time that government agencies have made conflicting statements. Some time ago, the Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi said that Indonesian women employed abroad became prostitutes, while the Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said there are no such cases.

Newspapers should educate people to become mature and wise and restrain themselves, so as not to be swayed from left to right because of incorrect news coverage. The board of editors should scrutinize all items before printing them. And if they receive conflicting items they should check and recheck them.

After all, we are only humans and mistakes are made. But let's learn from past mistakes and gain experience.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta