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May 1, 2001
Letters to the Editor
The Washington Post
1150- 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20071
Dear Sir/Madam,
The report by Rajiv Chandrasekaran published on April 22 had
grossly exaggerated the possibility of violence in the streets of Jakarta
following the Parliament session deliberating a second censure to
President Wahid on April 30. The reporter went to such trouble in
describing details about the scenario, among others by visiting a group of
people in what he described as "remote jungle camps" to support his
speculation of the violence.
It is a fact that such violence in the streets of Jakarta
did not happen on April 30 nor the following day after the censure. On his
following report published on May 1, however, probably to his
disappointments, the reporter only implicitly acknowledged in a single
sentence (out of 20 paragraphs) that the violence did not take place.
Instead of explaining the reasons of the non-existence of the violence,
which he owed to the Post readers, he continued with new baseless
speculations by suggesting that: "The rebuke�likely will unleash a new
round of political turmoil across the world�s fourth most populous
nation�" He even predicted that: "�such a move could spark a
constitutional crisis�"
Such a stubborn persistent of the reporter in predicting a
chaotic situation in a country that is in the mid of transition into
democracy will certainly not help the cause. Reports that mostly based on
his speculations were directed to create a bad image of the country among
the American public. Fortunately for Indonesia, most American businessmen
still have confidence in the country. The two countries trade volume last
year reached a record high of $13 billion, while US investment in
Indonesia is still the largest by far. Various private and official
financial assistance from the US to Indonesia still flourish, which
include 11 Boeing B-737 planes last year.
If Indonesia is so chaotic as predicted by the reporter,
would the readers believe such achievements would be possible? On the
other hand, it may be a wishful thinking to expect reporter with "bad news
is good news mentality" to comprehend this message.
Yours Sincerely,
- Mahendra Siregar
- Counsellor
- Information and Press
- Indonesian Embassy
- Tel: (202) 775-5266; Fax: (202) 775-5305;
- E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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