I am so glad that CIJ wrote this comment (see below). I have been appalled by the news coverage in the mainstream papers, in particular the New Straits Times. They either report wrongly, or have angles that are SO CLEARLY on the side of BN that they might as well be their publishing house. I always heard from my friends that the media ’spins’ things, but now I see it so clearly for myself!
I am so disappointed with the the attempts of the BN government to twist the facts of the rally (4,000 indeed, hmmph! I guess the rest of the 36,000 were just shopping in Central Market, or looking with great interest at the flower beds on the highways). I am dismayed that Najib says:
“Public protests are not part of Malaysian culture. They only tear down the spirit of national unity that past leaders toiled so hard to build…”
which is shown the front page of NST today (the paper, not the online version).
Our country is in serious trouble in so many ways, and rather than face these issues properly, courageously, and with concern for the dignity and human rights of people, we are just supposed to pretend that everything is fine. More gloss and veneer to hide the shaky foundations and widening cracks in our society. Pretense rather than honesty, misuse of the law rather than justice, studied ignorance rather than courageous reform. Let us tackle social problems rather than avoid them! Let us rebuild the foundations of our nation and mend the cracks in the walls, not pretend that nothing is wrong!!!
Arrggghhh….!!!
The wayang kulit media just contributes to the wayang kulit politics.
Boycott NST and stick with Malaysiakini!
PS – I just read this great blog entry by Trish who reminds us that UMNO led public protests against the British form of rule in 1946, resulting in the construction of our present nation-state. I love her comment:
To say that street demonstrations are not part of Malaysian culture is absolute hogwash.
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Centre for Independent Journalism
27C Jalan Sarikei, off Jalan Pahang
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 4023 0772, 03 4024 9840
Fax: 03 4023 0769
13 November 2007
*Misinformation reigns on the November 10 march*
Thousands of Malaysians joined a peaceful rally on November 10
organized by BERSIH, the coalition of 67 civil society groups and five
opposition political parties, to demand for electoral reforms. Despite
the extensive restrictions placed by the government, the public marched
through the city, braving the rain, water cannons and tear gas, to make
its point. Everyone supporting the cause, as well as those protesting
it, followed the developments in real time, not because of the local
media, but thanks to the blogs, mobile phones, SMSes, independent media,
brave journalists and the foreign media.
Popular blogs were providing minute-by-minute updates on the rally,
police action and people’s opinions on the issues raised on the need for
electoral reforms in the country. The government, showing signs of
aghast at the sheer number, tried its best to sell misinformation
through the major local media. News peddled by the government- and
state-controlled media were mainly skewed towards diminishing the rally
to an opposition gimmick at the expense of the issue, and portraying the
rally as a trouble-making exercise. Such unfair reporting started before
the rally as the government instructed the local media not to cover the
event. In other words, no news from the point of view of the organisers
or the public. In addition, state-run radio and television stations
warned people not to participate in the march or wear yellow, in their
broadcasts on Friday.
The most controversial concerning the coverage has been the number of
people at the assembly and march. Official figures stated 4,000 during
Saturday’s march while observers and the foreign press have placed the
number between 20,000 and 40,000. Besides that, the reporting of the
Federal Reserve Unit in using the water cannons and the tear gas on the
public clearly showed the intent of the government to lay the blame
squarely on the people for provoking the authorities. The police have
also claimed that more than 200 people were arrested while human rights
organisation SUARAM and lawyers have refuted the figures, saying that
only 34 have been arrested and most were released. Such discrepancies
put the local media at peculiar odds with the presence of Al-Jazeera,
which ran a live report from the scene, as well as other foreign
agencies such as Reuters and AFP and bloggers.
The attempts in the media to brush off the largest public rally in
recent years is reflective of the government’s lack of respect for the
public’s freedom of expression and the right to know. By tying the hands
of the media with legal and political tools, the government has only
tarnished its reputation as the public sees clearly how information is
distorted. The print and broadcast media will lose their relevance
because of these controls. As it stands, they are fast overtaken by
online and offline technologies like the blogs, video sharing sites and
mobile phones that disseminate images and text from the scene to
thousands of people in real time.
The next few days will continue to see attacks against the organisers
and demonstrators, dominating the media. CIJ believes that the public
deserves information, not misinformation. It is high time the government
review its harsh tactics to suppress expression, assembly and
information. It should respect the people’s right to assemble and allow
the media do its job fearlessly to report the truth, and these are
rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution. CIJ also calls on the
media to open spaces for more diverse views, not just on the rally, but
other public interest issues such as their democratic and political rights.
by
Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director
For more information, please call 03 40230772
