New press publishing permits frozen<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has frozen the issuance of
\npress publishing licenses (SIUPP) for 1995, except for special
\nsector publications like trade and sports gazettes, Minister of
\nInformation Harmoko announced yesterday.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said after presenting press awards at the Indonesian
\nJournalists Association (PWI) that the government would not issue
\nany new publishing licenses for newspapers or magazines on
\ncurrent affairs in 1995.<\/p>\n
\"We have too many press publications,\" the minister said,
\nciting the current 283 licensed publications throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The door however is still open for those who want to offer
\nspecial publications such as trade and sports magazines to the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
Harmoko's statement comes as the final blow to any remaining
\nhopes by a group of former journalists of the defunct Tempo
\ncurrent affairs magazine of starting a new publication of their
\nown. The journalists have applied to Harmoko's office for a new
\nSIUPP.<\/p>\n
Asked about this matter yesterday, Harmoko said there was no
\nchance for them to obtain a new license. \"It's final.\"<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the government has already issued one
\nnew license to the former Tempo employees, who started up Gatra
\nmagazine last month.<\/p>\n
Tempo lost its license in June for repeatedly ignoring the
\ngovernment's warnings about its editorial content. The former
\nemployees of the magazine have since split into two groups, the
\none for Gatra, which is financed by timber tycoon Mohamad (Bob)
\nHasan, and another group intending to establish their own. Some
\nof the former employees are suing Harmoko for his decision to
\nrevoke Tempo's SIUPP.<\/p>\n
Besides Tempo, two other current affairs magazine Editor and
\nDeTik also lost their licenses in one swoop in June.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he thinks there will be more magazine closures
\nnext year, Harmoko said yesterday that there was no reason why
\nany publication should lose its SIUPP as long as it complies with
\nthe regulations laid out by the Press Council.<\/p>\n
\"I hope there will not be any need for any media ban in
\n1995,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that the government will not hesitate to punish
\npublications, which violate regulations and the journalistic code
\nof ethics.<\/p>\n
Looking back at outgoing 1994, he said the local media
\nindustry overall has done its part in supporting the national
\ndevelopment program.<\/p>\n
The press has not only been reporting on the development
\nactivities, it has also fulfilled its function as a mechanism of
\nsocial control, the former journalist said.<\/p>\n
The government always welcome any criticism from the press,
\nas long as this is done within the prescribed guidelines and is
\nconstructive, he said, adding that the press also has the duty of
\neducating people and encouraging critical thinking and reasoning.<\/p>\n
Harmoko yesterday presented awards for the best articles in
\nconnection with this year's National Awakening Day.<\/p>\n
Desi Fernanda from the Bandung Post won for best article on
\ndemocracy, and Maria Hartiningsih from Kompas daily won the
\nfeature writing award for her article profiling Kardinah
\nSoepardjo Rustam, an activist of the government-sponsored PKK, a
\ngrassroots organization for the support of family welfare.<\/p>\n
Suara Pembaruan won in the category for best editorial,
\nwhile the Medan-based Analisa was named as the best press
\npublication.<\/p>\n
PWI's Secretary-General, Parni Hadi, said there was no
\nwinner for this year's best report.<\/p>\n
The four-member team of judges, presided over by Tribuana
\nSaid, selected the winners from 39 publications during the period
\nof May 20, 1993, to May 20, 1994.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Harmoko told the domestic press not to be
\ncarried away by the actions of the foreign press, which
\ndiscredited the nation and its government in the name of human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
\"We have to stick to the state ideology Pancasila,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He underlined that the domestic press should maintain
\nIndonesia's existing values and nationalism. (sim)<\/p>",
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