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OPEN STATEMENT OF ISAI
(The Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information)
Recent developments in East Timor raise serious concerns. The situation
has not only resulted in a worsening of relations between Indonesia and
Australia, but has also increased hateful expressions from both sides.
We are especially worried about the lack of opportunity for journalists to
enter East Timor to seek the truth. Of special concern is the unwillingness
of Interfet (International Force for East Timor) to accommodate jounalists
who have not registered in Darwin, Australia. Not only is there no
protection for journalists who have not registered, but Interfet forces have
also demonstated hostility towards unregistered journalists in East Timor,
(including journalists from internationally recognized news agencies)
resulting in the publication of reports of questionable credibility. This
has contributed to the worsening of relations between Indonesia and
Australia during the last two months.
Because of this, we appeal to Interfet immediately to end their
uncooperative attitude towards journalists, including Indonesians. Interfet
has to help all journalists in their efforts to gather facts and search for
the truth, so that reports relating to East Timor are no longer speculative,
but rather accurate and complete.
We also demand that the Indonesian intelligence community end its practice
of infiltrating the press corps. In addition to damaging the image of
Indonesian jounalists as a whole, this practice also results in reports
that sound like propaganda and hurt the reputation of Indonesia in the
international community. Let jounalists look for the truth and do their
job. It is wrong for the intelligence community to fill the media with lies
that only serve to inflame anti-Australian sentiment.
Hostility directed against working journalists by certain groups who not
only threaten but also commit acts of violence must be stopped. Two
journalists have already been killed in E. Timor. Sander Thoenes (30), a
Dutch journalist from the Financial Times was killed in Dili on September 1,
1999. Agus Mulyawan (26), an Indonesian reporter for Asia Press was killed
in Los Palos on September 17, 1999. Both were mute witnesses to how
journalists, armed only with their pens, notebooks, and cameras, can be
felled by armed militias. As both sides should know, in doing their
professional work journalists are noncombatants, more or less similar to Red
Cross workers.
We strongly condemn these killings. We demand that the responsible
authoritites quickly investigate these crimes, and arrest and bring the
perpetrators to justice.
Jakarta, October 4, 1999
Goenawan Mohamad
Director
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SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
