Beware of negative information

Beware of negative information

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko warned yesterday of an influx of "negative information" that is being beamed in by foreign broadcasting networks, especially to rural areas.

Briefing the press yesterday at the conclusion of his two-week Ramadhan tour, which covered 6,300 kilometers of Kalimantan, Harmoko pointed out that information has become "one of the basic needs" of the population.

"Parabola antennae sit atop of so many houses along the roads and rivers, both in urban and rural areas," he said. "What we need to do is strengthen the people's mental and cultural resilience, so that they won't be affected by the flow of negative information that is not in accordance with our culture."

He called for an all-out effort to establish "rural information orders", or information centers and facilities to boost public resilience to "negative information".

"Through the establishment of a rural information order, we'll have rural resilience which, in turn, will support national resilience," Harmoko said.

Harmoko makes the Safari Ramadhan tour annually in his capacity both as information minister and as chairman of the ruling political grouping Golkar. The state-television station TVRI reports on his activities extensively every evening and viewers are usually able to watch his activities in various cities, handing out Golkar membership cards to supporters.

Harmoko told reporters yesterday that in his opinion, his trip has had a "positive impact on various development efforts, both at the regional and national levels".

The trip, he said, "continuously promoted the people's welfare in various aspects of life". (swe)