Indonesia Hosts First Confederation Of Asean Journalists Workshop

Palembang, S Sumatra, Feb 11 (Antara) - Indonesia is hosting the first Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) workshop in Palembang, South Sumatra, from February 10 to 12. CAJ`s Permanent Secretary Akhmad Kusaeni stated during the opening event here on Monday, that this workshop was part of the action-plan of the agreement among the CAJ`s members at the general assembly in Manila, Philippines, in November last year that aimed to strengthen the ASEAN journalists` capacity through training and education. "The permanent secretary of CAJ and the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) have aimed to establish ASEAN journalism education and training center in Palembang to help improve ASEAN journalists` abilities," Kusaeni stated. Kusaeni pointed out the purposes of CAJ are to promote the freedom of expression and to get access to information, which is part of the group`s effort to promote ASEAN in the global community, particularly ahead of facing the ASEAN Communities by 2015. Quoting Kavi Chongkittavorn, Kusaeni stressed that ASEAN journalists were still focusing their own interests of their states and nations, in comparison with European Union`s journalists who have promoted their idea of "a union`s community" in their every coverage. "I think Kavi was right. We don`t need to be angry about his critics. More important is that we need to address his points of concern to reactivate and revitalize the CAJ`s visions and missions," Kusaeni emphasized. In aiming to address its visions and missions, during the first workshop, CAJ also launched the Center for ASEAN Journalism Education and Training (CAJET) which will be located in Palembang. CAJ was established in Jakarta, March 11, 1975, with an aim to be more active in the role of media toward ASEAN Economic Communities in 2015 and beyond. The first CAJET workshop was facilitated by the South Sumatera Government and had participation from approximately one hundred journalists across ASEAN member states, and lead by prominent speakers, including Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Politic Legal and Security Djoko Suyanto, Associate Dean for Global Programs Fritz Cropp and ASEAN Secretariat officials.