Soeharto promises no arbitrary press bannings<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto assured the national press
\nyesterday that the government would not revoke publishing
\nlicenses arbitrarily.<\/p>\n
He said the press should act responsibly and place national
\ninterests above those of individuals or groups.<\/p>\n
"Press freedom is not just for the sake of freedom, but
\nsomething that must be exercised responsibly," Minister of
\nInformation R. Hartono quoted the President as saying.<\/p>\n
"You should not regard the SIUPP (publishing licenses) as a
\nghost. If we cooperate and if we love our nation there will be no
\nrevocations of SIUPP," Hartono said after meeting Soeharto at the
\nBina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Hartono said the publishing licenses were still necessary. But
\nhe stressed the government's commitment that it would only revoke
\na license if a publications' actions were no longer tolerable and
\nif it repeatedly ignored government warnings.<\/p>\n
Hartono was installed as minister of information last week
\nfollowing a surprising cabinet reshuffle, replacing Harmoko.<\/p>\n
Hartono will keep his cabinet post until next March, when the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly will convene to elect a president
\nand vice president and outline the State Policy Outlines . The
\npresident will then form a cabinet.<\/p>\n
Hartono handed over his Army chief of staff post to Gen.
\nWiranto last week.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who had been information minister since 1983, became
\nthe state minister of special assignments. He will hold this
\nportfolio until he takes a seat in the House of Representatives
\nin October.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's meeting was the first between the President and
\nHartono as minister of information.<\/p>\n
Hartono said the national press must remain vigilant for
\ngroups bent on creating situations which could destabilize the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
"You must be vigilant, because consciously or unconsciously
\nthey can exploit the press as a weapon against the government,"
\nHartono said.<\/p>\n
He dismissed fears that, because he was an Army general, he
\nwould be tougher on the press than his predecessor.<\/p>\n
"Although I am a former Army chief of staff, it is possible
\nthat I will be softer than non-military officials. The meaning of
\ntough is relative... but we must be proportional," he said.<\/p>\n
He said he wanted fellow government officials not to be
\nhostile to the press, and treat journalists as partners.<\/p>\n
Hartono promised to hold regular meetings with the press to
\nsynchronize government and press perceptions.<\/p>\n
"Regular meetings between us are important because love will
\ngrow when you are closer to one another," Hartono said and
\nsmiled.<\/p>\n
Hartono said the 1982 Press Law and the 1984 ministerial
\ndecree, which empowered the information minister to revoke SIUPP
\nlicenses, were still needed for the press' sake.<\/p>\n
"When you study it comprehensively, you will find that the law
\nis for your own good," he told journalists.<\/p>\n
The decree has been controversial with many in the press
\nsaying that it contradicts the 1982 Press Law which guarantees
\npress freedom.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Information revoked the licenses of three
\nmajor news magazines in June 1984, Tempo, Editor, and DeTIK, for
\nrepeatedly ignoring the government's warnings on the way they
\nreported news.<\/p>\n
Two Jakarta-based newspapers, Sinar Harapan and Prioritas,
\nwere among the first victims of the 1984 decree. They were banned
\nin 1986 and 1987 respectively.<\/p>\n
Hartono hoped that the national press would not sensationalize
\nsocial disparity because it would "worsen the situation", and
\ntold the press not to think of profit alone.<\/p>\n
"Raising social disparity issues without good reason will
\ncreate misperceptions among people," Hartono said. (06)<\/p>",
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