Press refuses to back out of PDI row<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers and editors yesterday cold-shouldered
\na call by Media Indonesia daily that the domestic media should
\nblackout reports on the protracted leadership conflict in the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Scholars and journalists contacted by The Jakarta Post agreed
\nthat the call to abstain from reporting amounted to an attempt to
\nduck one of the press' responsibilities, namely reporting the
\nnews. The call, had it been heeded, would deprive the public of
\nits right to know what is happening in the country.<\/p>\n
\"If such a call is accepted, from where can people get the
\naccurate information that they might need?\" communications expert
\nAshadi Siregar said.<\/p>\n
Media Indonesia, one of the local major newspapers, yesterday
\nran an editorial and a call for a blackout on stories on PDI for
\nat least one month.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the media to refrain from reporting news (on the
\ndispute), regardless of whether they are for Soerjadi or
\nMegawati, until the party has settled its internal dispute,\" the
\ncall said. It was referring to the two principals in the party's
\nleadership crisis: government-backed chairman Soerjadi and ousted
\nchief Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
In a television interview last night, Surya Paloh, Media
\nIndonesia's general manager said that the call is genuine, though
\npeople can interpret it as they wish.<\/p>\n
\"We want to refrain from perpetrating further polemic on the
\nleadership crisis,\" Surya said. He acknowledged, however, that
\nthis morning's edition of his paper would run the story on
\nSoerjadi's meeting with President Soeharto yesterday.<\/p>\n
The editorial also called for both camps involved in the party
\nconflict to contemplate on what was happening to help find a
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
Political observers Soedjati Djiwandono and Budyatna
\nquestioned the call's sincerity and the purposes it served.<\/p>\n
\"What kind of contemplation are people supposed to do, when
\nit's clear that the government supports one faction and rejects
\nthe other,\" said Soedjati of the Center for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies.<\/p>\n
Several newspaper editors said that they had no intention of
\nheeding the call.<\/p>\n
\"We are dedicated to our readers, we have to give them
\nbalanced information,\" Imam Pudjiono, assistant chief editor of
\nSurabaya Post told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Ninok Leksono, deputy chief editor of Kompas daily, said that,
\nfor the moment, Kompas has no comment to make on the call.<\/p>\n
Sofyan Lubis, chairman of the Indonesian Journalists'
\nAssociation said that it is up to individual publications whether
\nto reject or heed the call.<\/p>\n
Ramlan Sumitradilaga, deputy chief editor of the Armed Forces
\nAngkatan Bersenjata daily said that each paper has its own goals
\nand policy.<\/p>\n
\"Ours happens to be to adhere to the government and all of its
\nregulations,\" Ramlan said, while stressing that his newspaper has
\nno intention of adhering to calls other than those from the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Human rights campaigner Soetandyo Wignyosoebroto said the
\nblackout served no purpose even if it was meant to help resolve
\nthe Indonesian press' current deplorable situation.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian journalists must be tired of being pressured.
\nThough many are committed to the people, they face many pressures
\nfrom those in power,\" said the member of the National Commission
\non Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Human rights campaigner Hendardi said the call represented an
\nattempt of the frustrated press to vent its feelings.<\/p>\n
\"If the press should be freed of anything, it should be freed
\nof government influence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hendardi said that the free speech forum which had been held
\ndaily at the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central
\nJakarta, is preferred by many people because it's there that they
\ncan get information unavailable elsewhere. (14\/16\/27)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/press-refuses-to-back-out-of-pdi-row-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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