The media in West Nusa Tenggara generally do not pay attention to the issue of diversity, especially to minority religion or belief, gender and sexuality. This was conveyed by representatives of marginal groups from the province whose majority of the population is affiliated with the Islamic group Nahdlatul Wathan.
Afrian representing the LGBT community, SALUT NTB, hopes that the media will take on an advocacy role with news that raises the issue of the difficulty of transgender women (transwomen) in getting decent and stable jobs. This condition is caused by the very strong stigma against transwomen in society.
“The media also do not reinforce the stigma against LGBT,” said Afrian to the editors involved in the FGD: Strengthening Diversity Journalism in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) held by SEJUK (October 6, 2021).
Sri Sukarni, Chairperson of the Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association (HWDI) NTB, expressed the same hope.
“The media must report on the vulnerability of women with disabilities who often become victims of sexual violence, find it difficult to access education, health, including access to fair law,” said Sri in the FGD was conducted online (Zoom) which involved 15 participants consisting of journalists, editors, commissioners of the Human Rights National Commission, and minority groups in West Nusa Tenggara.
Therefore, commissioner of Human Rights National Commission M. Choirul Anam invites journalists and media in Lombok to be involved together in advocating for diversity issues through news production. This was stated by Anam because the Human Rights National Commission will soon visit Lombok to meet Ahmadiyah congregations in refugee camps, Transito, and church circles. After meeting the victim and minority groups, they will meet the local government.
“In recent years, media have started reporting on the Ahmadiyah congregation in the refugee camp, Transito, in a better tone. However, to be able to change the people and government in Lombok to be more tolerant and non-discriminatory, the media must give more space to us, the minority group,” said the chairman of the Lombok Ahmadiyah committee, Saleh Ahmadi.
Zainudin Safari, Radio Global FM Lombok editor, and Lingguni, Inside Lombok editor conveyed the challenges as well as efforts that can be collaborated between victim and minority groups with the media or journalists in NTB.
Indeed, the challenge in reporting the issue of diversity in Lombok is enormous. This was conveyed by the female editor Linggauni.
“We journalists, when reporting on issues of diversity that are hated by certain groups, are often intimidated. In fact, we could be attacked by them,” said Linggauni dalam FGD yang difasilitasi oleh Tantowi Anwari, Advocacy Manager of SEJUK.
Therefore, Zainuddin Safari invites both circles, namely journalists and groups of victims or minorities, to have meetings and dialogue. So far, Zainuddin continued, it was very difficult for media friends and journalists to access sources from minority groups.
“Through meetings and dialogues, media coverage of minority issues will not strengthen the stigma. Instead, the media should take a position in favor of the victims and voice the aspirations of vulnerable groups,” said the man who had received a diversity coverage fellowship from SEJUK.
The FGD Participants:
- Sirtupillaili, Head of Independent Journalist Alliance (AJI) Mataram and Tribun Lombok journalist
- Zainudin Safari, Radio Global FM Lombok editor
- Susi Gustiana, Gaung NTB journalist, Sumbawa
- Atina, Radar Tambora editor, Bima
- Linggauni, Inside Lombok editor
- M. Choirul Anam, commissioner of Human Rights National Commission
- Pdt. Suwardi, Head of the Christian Churches Communication Forum (FKGK) NTB
- Sri Sukarni, Chairperson of the Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association (HWDI) NTB
- Afrian, LGBT community, Salut NTB
- Amora, transwoman, Sumbawa
- Saleh Ahmadi, Ahmadiyah Lombok
- Daniel Awigra, Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
- Saidiman Ahmad, Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC)
- Budhi Kurniawan, executive producer KOMPAS TV
- Ahmad “Alex” Junaidi, SEJUK Director
