Book fair organizers criticized

JAKARTA (JP): Publishers have criticized the discount policy and security at the annual book fair which the Indonesian Book Publishers' Association sponsors.

On Wednesday, publishers speaking at the preparation meeting for the 1997 Jakarta Book Fair lashed out at the organizing committee saying it had failed to make a clear policy on price discounts on exhibited books and take necessary steps to deter people from stealing books.

"The committee did not have the ability to reach a standard discount rate for books offered by the participating publishers," one publisher said.

Dozens of book publishers were at the meeting.

"There were different discounts at different stands in the exhibition," another publisher said.

Committee chairwoman Kartini Nurdin said she hoped publishers would offer at least a 20 percent discount at the June Book Fair.

But one publisher said it was hard to offer big discounts because many books were stolen at the exhibition.

Other publishers also complained about security. "During last year's fair a motorcycle was reported missing," one said.

Kartini promised the committee would do its best to meet their demands.

Kartini said this year's exhibition theme was "Reading is Fun". She said the committee would hold two seminars and a discussion on how to develop the theme.

Kartini said there would be 112 stands for publishers.

"This year's exhibition will also be connected to the 470th anniversary of Jakarta which will fall on June 22." Kartini said.

Meanwhile, committee member Aris Buntarman said he hoped the Jakarta Book Fair would one day be as big as the Frankfurt Book Fair.

"Indonesia should have a book fair of international standard," he said. Last year 4,000 titles were exhibited at the fair. (05)