Nala Edwin, Jakarta – Munir, the head of the human rights group Imparsial, says that human rights issues which are related to presidential candidates former armed forces chief Wiranto and former coordinating minister for politics and security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) are not a "black campaign". They shouldn't therefore use the pretext of a black campaign to cover up their track record.

"[We] have to distinguish between a black campaign and questions which relate to a person's track record. A black campaign is where there is misinformation made public about the identity of a person. This can be overcome thorough the credibility of the said person and public political education".

The issue was raised by the director of Imparsial after Munir took part in the commemoration of 10 years since the banning of Tempo, Detik and Editor(1) at the Tempo eatery on Jalan Utan Kayu in Jakarta on Monday night, June 21.

So is there a black campaign or not? "There's both. But on the question of human rights and Wiranto and SBY it's not a black campaign. It represents a part of their track record which the public must know about and can't be covered up. And it is precisely this, the political lies which are related to the misuse of power, corruption and human rights violations, which must be explained to the public", he said.

Munir went on to give an example of what could be called a black campaign. For example a person is accused of being anti-religion A or B but this actually has no relevance to the political contest. It is this kind of thing than can indeed be eliminated by the person concerned or by the discernment of the public.

With regard to how to overcome black campaigns, Munir sees it as an issue of political education. If the political parties do not provide good quality political education black campaigns can be quickly be accepted by people.

"But don't use the issue of black campaigns to cover up a person's track record were there actually is a problem. If the issue is related to track record it isn't a black campaign", responded Munir.

Notes:

1. In June 1994, former President Suharto banned three weeklies - Tempo, DeTIK and Editor - after they gave extensive coverage to an internal cabinet row between Finance Minister Mar'ie Muhammad and Research and Technology Minister Jusuf Habibie (who was later appointed as president after Suharto was forced from power in 1998) over the purchase of second-hand German warships. Hundreds of journalists, students and human rights activists demonstrated to protest against the ban and dozens were beaten and arrested by security forces. A short time later DeTIK resurfaced in the same format under the name "DeTAK" but was banned after publishing only three issues. Tempo magazine began publishing again in July 1998. Editor never reappeared and DeTIK is now published on the internet under the name Detik.com.

[Translated by James Balowski.]