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)