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.

Fidel’s legacy

History noted that no other person in the world dared defy America for almost 50 years. He is Fidel Castro. Although he is no longer the Cuban leader, he left an example of how a little, independent and sovereign nation could stand against more than four decades of cruel economic embargo. But despite that, in 2005, Cuba’s income per capita reached US$ 3000, far higher than Indonesia’s income per capita. The people there lead a simple life. They eat what is produced in Cuba and not imported foods. And Cuba doesn’t want to be trapped in foreign debt. Education and health are priorities in its national development. People enjoy free but good education and health services. Development is based on the country’s own strength and resources (not comparing to Indonesia). And people in Cuba don’t wear western attributes. Cuba has its own culture and ideology and wants to preserve them. It’s their own business. Both Cuba and Indonesia are members of the Non-Aligned Movement (there’s no more Soviet Union). But unlike Indonesia, the US never liked Cuba under Fidel (is there anyone else? Raul?). On April 17, 1961, US-backed anti-Castro forces launched the failed Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) invasion to topple Fidel. Countless other covert operations against Fidel also failed. The US didn’t like Soekarno either and launched covert operations (CIA operations armed rebels in Sumatra and Kalimantan) to unseat him. But the US liked Soeharto (described him as “our kind of guy”). Now Raul Castro leads Cuba and Barrack Obama might be the next US President. We’ll see what happens next in the world scene (in Indonesia as well of course!). I think I’m going to watch that film again, Havana, starring Robert Redford and Lena Olin!

Another puppet state?

Kosovo is now an independent state. With the backing of the United States, it now strives to get global recognition. It is now the newest country in the world. But many countries such as China , Russia and Spain refused to recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty and independence. Afghanistan, Taiwan, and the new independent states of the former Soviet Union meanwhile were the first to recognize Kosovo’s independence. During the declaration of independence, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci specifically attributed the United States for its role in Kosovo’s independence while US President George Walker Bush admitted that he has advocated the move all the way. Meanwhile, Serbia believes that Kosovo is still an integral part and the heart of of Serbia while the secession of Kosovo is an illegal act and a unilateral move undermining the UN Charter and the role of the Security Council. Europe is also divided over whether to recognize Kosovo. Violence flared across Serbia. Angry protestors stoned the embassies of the United States and Slovenia, current EU president. Russia is concerned with the presence of NATO and US troops there. I have been to the former Yugoslavia in the late 1960s. I recalled the beauty of the towns of Mitrovica and Banja Luka and the hospitality of the people there. Indonesia has long traditional ties with Yugoslavia since the days of Sukarno and Josef Broz Tito, two founding leaders who successfully united diverse ethnic groups, religions and peoples into one sovereign state. If they had been alive, they would cry in resentment to see the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia and its peoples. To me, Kosovo is just another puppet state of the United States formed under the pretext of democracy and people’s will. Kosovo’s independence could serve as a terrible precedent for separatist movements. I remember what the late Aceh Muslim scholar Kyai Haji Ali Hasmy told me. He had warned about the possibility of secession of Indonesia’s provinces unless we consistently preserve unity in diversity. Are we going to recognize Kosovo’s independence too Mr. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono?