President slams foreign media

President Suharto yesterday slammed the foreign media for painting a negative picture of Indonesia by highlighting its financial weaknesses.

He said the beleaguered country was “confronted with a psychological war” waged by print and electronic media.

Speaking to a group of professional badminton players before they left for Hongkong, the President urged them to bolster the country’s reputation by retaining the team crown. He said: “The economy is in crisis … and foreign reporting on our country … is negative.”

He did not mention the foreign-media coverage of protests which rocked Medan this week. He urged the players to steel themselves against the world’s perception of Indonesians.

“We are confronted with a psychological war or a psychological terror … Indonesian players have to have a strong-willed heart against incorrect news.” – AFP.