Harmoko denies monopolizing TV coverage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko denies that
\nGolkar, the ruling political organization which he also chairs,
\nhas monopolized news coverage on the state-owned TVRI, which
\nfalls under his official jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
During a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission
\nI on Wednesday night, Harmoko was besieged by opposition
\nlegislators and their questions about the glut of TV news
\ncoverage of his activities as Golkar chairman.<\/p>\n
He contended that the amount of media attention given to
\nGolkar was based on its activities.<\/p>\n
\"If their (other parties') programs flourish, then I do not
\nbelieve there should be a problem. The print media and the
\nelectronic media will cover them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Some members of the Commission, which oversees foreign affairs
\nand security, told the minister that the other two political
\nparties -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) -- have not been given enough coverage by
\nTVRI, the only television station permitted by law to run news.<\/p>\n
Matori Abdul Djalil of the PPP argued that over-exposure of
\none political organization was unhealthy to the development of
\nIndonesia's democracy.<\/p>\n
Such imbalance could be detrimental to the process of
\npolitical maturation, which the political parties, including
\nGolkar, have been trying to forge, he said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the Minister exempt the opposition parties
\nfrom the \"transport money\" that they normally have to pay TVRI
\nfor their news crew to cover their activities.<\/p>\n
Harmoko quickly rejected Matori's allegations, saying that
\napart from being \"pro-active\", Golkar's activities carried social
\nmessages crucial to national development.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the activities of PPP chairman Ismail
\nHasan Metareum were given wide coverage on television.<\/p>\n
\"I'm sure all the media will cover it...I'll return it to the
\nactivities of the social political organizations themselves,\" he
\nsaid of the frequency of news broadcasts.<\/p>\n
After being elected as Golkar chairman in October 1993, Bung
\nHarmoko as he is known in Golkar circles, has been stomping
\nacross the nation to meet with the group's cadres ahead of the
\n1997 general election.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, Harmoko explained that he hoped to cover
\nall 304 regencies in Indonesia. He has just over 90 to go, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Harmoko refuted the allegations that he has already begun
\ncampaigning for the 1997 election. \"These were not campaigns,
\nthese were meetings with Golkar cadres,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Under Indonesian election rules, political organizations are
\nonly allowed to campaign during the three months ahead of the
\ngeneral elections.<\/p>\n
\"If the programs are directed towards national interest in
\nimproving welfare, then they will definitely be covered by all of
\nthe media,\" Harmoko said.<\/p>\n
On the issue of press freedom, Harmoko told the hearing that
\nIndonesia extols the ideal and the universal standing of such
\nrights as freedom of speech.<\/p>\n
Despite its universality, he clarified, each nation has a
\ndifferent set of values which must be respected.<\/p>\n
The government recognizes the media's right to social control,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"We have never conducted censorship or applied pressure on any
\nissue,\" he said, adding that \"the Ministry of Information has
\nnever done such a thing, especially since I've become minister of
\ninformation.\"<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who was appointed information minister in 1983, said
\nIndonesia is one of the freest states in the world.<\/p>\n
\"Media freedom is so big,\" he said pointing to the
\ndistribution of 186 foreign publications in Indonesia and the
\nunrestricted acquisition of foreign television stations through
\nsatellite dishes.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the newsprint crisis, Harmoko said he had strongly
\nurged the Association of Newspaper Publishers to establish their
\nown paper factory as a way of preventing future shortages.<\/p>\n
Harmoko also suggested that newsprint producers turn to other
\nraw materials given that the world supply of pulp is fast
\ndiminishing. (05\/mds)<\/p>",
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