Joint
Statement by The Age and the The Sydney Morning Herald on
Jakarta Correspondent, Mr Lindsay Murdoch
March
19, 2002 -- We note and welcome the statement by the
Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs that the decision not to renew the working visa of our Jakarta Correspondent, Mr Lindsay
Murdoch, is "a straightforward consular matter" and "technical" in nature and is unrelated to the issue of freedom of the press in
Indonesia.
We also note and welcome the comments attributed in today's edition of the Jakarta Post to the Indonesian
Department of Foreign Affairs chief spokesman, Marty Natalegawa, to the effect that the decision by
the Indonesian authorities not to extend Mr Murdoch's working visa "was in no way related to an editorial matter" and while "we may
disagree on many of the things he has written", the paper reported that Mr Natalegawa as saying that as long as it is a curate and heeds
to journalistic ethics it is still acceptable.
In all our discussions with the Foreign Ministry, we have sought a normal extension of Mr Murdoch's working visa to allow him to
complete his term as our Indonesia correspondent and allow for a proper hand-over to his successor. There was no understanding on
our part that a three-month extension of Mr Murdoch's visa, as granted last December, would allow for either, or was satisfactory,
and these concerns were directly and consistently communicated to the Department. If there is now confusion or a misunderstanding
about the timing of Mr Murdoch's completion of the term of his posting and handing over to his successor, we would welcome the
opportunity to resolve the matter so that Mr Murdoch can complete his term as our correspondent, and prevent any further interruption in
our coverage from Indonesia.
In light of these comments from the Foreign Ministry, we will be approaching the Indonesian authorities to request that the decision to
refuse Mr Murdoch an extension of his working visa be reviewed and that the extension now be granted.
Greg Hywood, Publisher and Editor in Chief, The Age
Alan Revell, Publisher and Editor in Chief, The Sydney Morning Herald
Michael Gawenda, Associate Publisher and Editor, The Age
Robert Whitehead, Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
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ENDS –
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