The axe has fallen<\/p>\n
It was truly shocking to learn the other day about the
\ngovernment's decision to ban the three leading weekly magazines
\nTempo, Editor and the tabloid DeTIK.<\/p>\n
It never crossed our mind that right in the middle of the
\nnewly found climate of openness the government would go so far as
\nto ban these three publications.<\/p>\n
Indeed, for many it was unthinkable that the deplorable and
\nultimately deadly weapon, the canceling of press publishing
\npermits, would be used by the government to stop those \"prying
\nand irritating\" press reports. One would have thought that the
\ngovernment would first take smaller steps, which would have
\nensured a similar effect without having to kill the goose.<\/p>\n
After all, we believe that to our accepted way of thinking we
\nare all members of one big family in which advisement and
\npersuasion are preferred whenever possible.<\/p>\n
Apparently, in this case, the government has taken a different
\nview. As stated by Director General for Press and Graphics,
\nSubrata, the government was forced to take this extreme measure
\nbecause the publications had repeatedly ignored official warnings
\nabout the manner in which they reported news or managed their
\noperations. Subrata also said that the steps taken are for the
\nsake of the development of a free, healthy and responsible press
\nand to maintain national stability.<\/p>\n
One thing that makes it rather difficult for the press, of
\ncourse, is that no clear-cut guidelines have ever been outlined
\non what constitutes acts that disrupt or endanger the nation's
\nstability. Surely, most people would agree that so far there have
\nbeen no indications that the nation has been destabilized or is
\nin any way in danger.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, there were plenty of indications of late that
\nthe government was growing irritated with certain members of the
\nmedia. In the last several months scores of publications received
\noral and written warnings from the authorities. A number of
\nofficials, and some observers as well, had also urged the press
\nto be more circumspect lest the government close the gate of
\nopenness.<\/p>\n
The most obvious indication that something would happen was
\nwhen President Soeharto, in his speech in Teluk Ratai, Lampung,
\non June 9 hinted that the government would take \"firm action\"
\nagainst certain publications he alleged had fanned the
\ncontroversy over the government's purchase of used East German
\nwarships, which jeopardized national stability. By then, any keen
\nobserver could conclude that certain members of the media would
\nget the axe.<\/p>\n
And thus, regretfully it has fallen. It was indeed a very sad
\nexperience to have to helplessly watch our colleagues being
\npunished and fall victim to certain debatable aspects of our
\nsociety, as we agree with the view that a legal course should
\nalways be taken to settle disputes or violations of any kind.<\/p>\n
Still, the incident provides some valuable lessons. The first
\nis the fact that we, particularly the press, are still -- to use
\na popular phrase -- in a period of living dangerously. It would
\nbe too naive to expect that the authorities would shrink from any
\nstep they felt necessary to maintain their treasured national
\nstability.<\/p>\n
Whatever the case, one should not believe that the closure of
\nthe three magazines spells either the end of the world or the end
\nof openness. We believe what might happen is that the corridor of
\nopenness will be slightly and temporarily narrowed and that the
\nmedia must wait for the gate to be reopened.<\/p>\n
We agree with the view that what has happened will most
\nprobably slow down the speed with which political openness has
\nbeen progressing. But in the end, we believe that democracy will
\nbe recognized for what it is: an unstoppable phenomenon,
\nbeneficial to all.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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