Indonesian Chief Editors Issue Nusa Dua Commitment

Nusa Dua (Antara) - As many as 200 chief editors from various mass media in Indonesia issued Nusa Dua Commitment to boost the realization of a strong Indonesia. "Chief editors from across Indonesia have formulated a common vision to develop a strong Indonesia that we have put in the Nusa Dua Commitment," the steering committee chairman of the Forum of Chief Editors meeting, Suryopratomo, said here on Friday. The general chairman of the forum, Wahyu Muryadi, meanwhile said the commitment had been formulated to remind chief editors of the Indonesian mass media of the importance of developing the country to become a strong country in the future. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who attended and delivered a speech at the meeting hailed the commitment, saying "the Nusa Dua Commitment is part of media chiefs' efforts to safeguard what is good and improve what has not yet been good in the country. That is the essence of change and continuity." The commitment includes nine pledges that includes drive the nation to focus and jointly strive and realize a stronger and more respectful Unitary State of Indonesia for the welfare of the people. The chief editors said that freedom of the press is intended for controlling state administration, the government, businesses and all institutions to assure clean and good governance. In view of that, they pledged they would use it professionally based on the journalistic code of ethics. In the field of economy, finance and industry they said they would consistently lead and encourage the realization of a just system, support national endeavor, protect national interests and improve the welfare of the people and national esteem. With regard to energy they said they would consistently safeguard and encourage the realization of a system that would preserve the environment, promote the use of renewable energy sources as well as energy self-sufficiency that would bring optimum benefit for the progress and welfare of the people and development of national businesses. On infrastructure the Indonesian chief editors agreed to consistently guard and encourage the realization of infrastructure development based on national priorities to assure smooth national development for the biggest interest of the people. The chief editors also agreed to consistently guard and encourage the realization of programs to assure sustainable availability of foods and clean water for the people and improvement of the welfare of farmers, ranchers and fishermen. In the field of media they agreed to consistently guard and encourage the realization of convergence that would bring enlightenment to the people and a just, transparent and proportional system for the players in the current global era. (*)