APSN Banner

Wahid says some media get paid to spread lies

Source
Jakarta Post - November 19, 2000

Jakarta – President Abdurrahman Wahid calls on both electronic and print media to promote truth in their coverage, saying there are media who get paid to spread lies and slanders.

"There are media who are paid to publish lies or slanderous news," the President said Saturday evening in his speech at a reception to mark the launching of Metro-TV, dubbed the first news TV station in the country, in West Jakarta.

President Abdurrahman also directed his criticism at a number of international television stations whose coverage did not reflect the reality. "There was a foreign television station that broadcast the mass gathering in Aceh and stated that millions of people turned up for the event," he said.

The President was referring to the mass rally in Banda Aceh on November 11. The organizers of the rally said they had invited two million to the event.

"In fact, less than 100,000 people turned up. However, thanks to a good television 'angle', it looked like [Banda Aceh] was swarmed with people who wanted a referendum. The fact is, people do not want a referendum," said the President, adding that therewere more people who declined to attend that those who came. "Tell the truth," he stressed.

Country