Propaganda journalism

When journalists converge on Bali for the Global Inter-Media Dialog, American journalism and the media came under fire for engagement in propaganda practices. The subject immediately stole my attention. After 9/11, the US media used new terminologies which often blurred the real picture of what is happening in other countries where the main religion is Islam. The frequent use of terms such as Islamophobia, fundamentalism, war on terror and Islamic terrorists, Islamic fascists etc. had great influence in shaping wrong perception about Muslims and Islam (who invented those terms?). It’s biased and on the part of the journalists, its really unprofessional. I want to call it propaganda reporting designed to cause misperception, hatred and discrimination against other countries, peoples and cultures. In the late 1970s, a professor at Duke University, North Carolina and a lectures at George Washington University told me that most journalists in the US were well-trained, highly educated and most came from respected middle class American families. In their profession, they possessed a high degree of respect for code of ethics, confidentiality, people’s rights and most of all, high-standard of accuracy. US-style journalism gained credibility and became a model for the world. But after US President George W. Bush came to power, the quality of journalism declined. The US media became the propaganda arm of the US Government (“either you’re with us or with the terrorists!”). It is biased, unbalanced and at times misleading when it comes to reporting reporting on other countries, cultures, values and religion. Regretfully, and at many times unaware, the journalists resort to propaganda journalism, lacking social responsibility, tolerance of other cultures and accuracy. An example of propaganda reporting is the kidnapping of Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, in a raid by Palestinians. There was no press reports except in the Turkish media which pointed to the truth that it was the Israelis first who kidnapped Palestinians. It was propaganda journalism designed to turn the facts around. The account was confirmed by Gore Vidal and twelve other journalists who put up a petition against propaganda reporting (who doesn’t believe him?). During the Iraq war, propaganda journalism was widely practiced such as in the case of portraying civilian casualties as terrorists. In Israel and in North Korea, propaganda reporting is common. In this part of the world, the most recent example of propaganda journalism is the case of Timor Leste President Ramos Horta’s allegations that Indonesians were involved in an assassination bid on his life (he still owes Indonesia an apology, publicly, at least in the media). The Australian journalists may have felt uncomfortable and unaware that they have been used for propaganda purposes by Australia and Horta himself. In newly-democratic Indonesia, where the mainstream media are mostly owned by businessmen, propaganda reporting is still practiced, however under a new public relations cloak to serve the interests of the businessmen, politicians and the government.

Failed policies, why not a public debate first?

Raising subsidized fuel prices and giving away cash disbursements to the poor people are not the only solution for this country. Such policies will only make more and more millions suffer and raise the number of poor who are already struggling for their daily lives due to rising fuel and food prices. Under a capitalist regime, the policy of increasing fuel prices may look and sound good. But in the case of Indonesia, more and more millions of people who are already struggling for their daily lives, will suffer even more (watch out for demos, increased crime rate and suicides). Current economic policies have not worked. For the common people, life is far more difficult. Farmers are not better off in terms of their welfare and fishermen can no longer afford to go to sea. Cash disbursements of a mere Rp 100,000 a month to the poor will only last for two days (Rp 14 trillion in 7 months, Rp 100,000 per family each month). And it can be misinterpreted as political bribes to win the hearts of the people. Yudhoyono’s call for saving energy may be a good call but not for the common people who have yet to enjoy electricity, affordable basic needs, education, health and a decent life (It’s a call for the elite people, officials, MPs and businessmen!). People don’t buy policies under the pretext of external factors such as rising global oil and food prices and most of all, bailing out the state budget. There are other alternatives which Indonesia can take in the course of saving the nation. One way is having the courage to resist foreign influence, get rid of the oil mafia practices and implement own genuine Indonesian economic policies. They can be among others, renegotiating oil production sharing contracts with foreign companies, covering the Rp 35 trillion budget deficit using the abundant funds intended for spending (government only spent 5% of that), rescheduling repayment of foreign debt (the bulk of the money is untouched for the creditors) and making the state oil enterprise, Pertamina, efficient. But Yudhoyono insisted no other economic solutions will work except for increasing fuel. Such dogmatic thinking is undemocratic in nature (intellectual arrogance?). He should have accommodated the theories and analysis of other economists outside the government. Or at least engage in a public and open debate first with economists who believe they their theories are applicable (why not a debate with Rizal Ramli?). This way, he will save his own credibility which is now seen and portrayed as more serving the interests of the foreigners, foreign bond holders and his own political ambition.

A question of sincerity

Subject: “Indonesia and Timor Leste: Redefining Relations for the Future”. Place: Flores Room, Hotel Borobudur. Time: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 14:00 – 16:00. Host: Presidential Spokesperson, Indonesian Council on World Affairs, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. Speaker: Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Mood: Speech and Impressed audience despite the dull Q & A session dominated by officials and academics. Only one important question, among the most ordinary, was asked by a researcher questioning the prime minister’s real commitment towards fostering relations with Indonesia. It went unanswered. Instead, smooth talk about the speaker’s relations with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, his 62 years of age and equating himself and his political experience with other leaders of Asia. The rest was body language, no real content and short of what a real lecture was supposed to be. We are not against the prime minister to improve relations with Indonesia. After all he has said that Bahasa Indonesia will be taught in Timor Leste schools, Timor Leste will have military cooperation with Indonesia and Timor Leste wants to learn from Indonesia how to achieve self-sufficiency. But underneath all that, there is still a question of sincerity. There are still basic problems which need to be solved first. Timor Leste President Ramos Horta’s groundless allegations that “Indonesian elements” were involved in an assassination attempt on his life on February 11, 2008 have yet to be proved. And he owes Indonesia an apology. Although the prime minister has expressed regret over the issue and called on Indonesia against blowing up the issue for the sake of good relations, the hurt feelings of the Indonesians remain (can’t imagine how top senior journalist Desi Anwar feels). Regret and apology are two different things. Regret is used in invitations while apology is humbly admitting making a mistake and ask for forgiveness. But Horta, as head of state and the leader of Timor Leste arrogantly dismissed claims he had accused Indonesia. It was on the record. And he stood firm he was misquoted by the press (that many times?). The prime minister only conveyed Ramos Horta’s regret (what a double standard!). And alas, Indonesian officialdom was deaf and blind in seeing this reality. It failed to accommodate aspirations and feelings of the people and the press. Timor Leste should respect Indonesia as a big brother. Once again we have been outwitted by both Ramos Horta and Xanana Gusmao. Old wounds have yet to be healed and now Ramos Horta’s manipulative intrigue will continue to be seen as a thorn in relations between Timor Leste and Indonesia.