Communism may infiltrate RI press, Harmoko says

Communism may infiltrate RI press, Harmoko says

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko warned the
Indonesian media yesterday to remain leery of the latent danger
of communism.

"Even though the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) is already
disbanded, communism as an ideology will not fade away just like
that," he insisted after conferring the annual "Upholders of
Pancasila Press" awards to eight senior journalists here
yesterday for meritorious service in upholding the state ideology
Pancasila.

Harmoko named a number of instruments which communists rely on
to spread their ideology, including agitation, propaganda,
creating intrigue, insinuation, slander and pitting one side
against the other to exploit class struggles.

"The Pancasila Sanctity Day on Oct. 1 should be used as
momentum for the nation to keep its vigil against the latent
danger of communism," he said.

"Communism may flare up again any time, in two years time,
five, 10 or 20 years, because the PKI will never give up in its
effort to exert influence at every opportunity, including through
the mass media," Harmoko said.

Harmoko's assertion was the latest in a series of officials
warning against communism, which this year has even greater
significance, given the recent political tension related to the
Democratic People's Party (PRD). The small youth organization is
accused of conducting communist activities and of masterminding
the July 27 riots which, according to the National Commission on
Human Rights, killed five and injured 149.

"Take the PRD as an example, its statutes are almost the same
as the PKI's, it is not based on Pancasila," Harmoko said.

The award presentation was timed to coincide with Pancasila
Sanctity Day, which the nation commemorates today. The date was
chosen to mark the survival of the state ideology after a coup
attempt blamed on the PKI on the night of Sept. 30, 1965.

The award is given to journalists whose work has been
recognized as strengthening Pancasila since the attempted coup.

The recipients of the award yesterday were M. Chudori, former
chief editor of Antara news agency and former general manager of
The Jakarta Post, the late Bustaman of Mimbar Umum daily in
Medan, H. Usmar Siregar of the Persada in Medan, H. Robert Garty
of the Berita Buana daily in Jakarta, Setiadi Tryman Ms. of the
Suara Pembaruan, also in Jakarta, the late Wiwiek Hidayat of
Antara, the late M. Saleh Djaja of Suara Kaltim in Samarinda,
East Kalimantan, and the late Hussein Joesoef of the Atjeh Post
in Banda Aceh.

The award origination in 1982 and was named Satya Penegak
Pers. According to Antara, the award was renamed Penegak Pers
Pancasila (Upholders of Pancasila Press) the next year.
It has so far been conferred upon 99 senior journalists, 35
posthumously.

Also yesterday, Harmoko said that press publications
containing elements against Pancasila, including those of Marxism
and Leninism, will never be allowed.

Chudori concurred with Harmoko yesterday, saying the award
serves to protect Pancasila from the latent danger of communism.

"Journalists should all realize the danger of communism, which
finds its fertile soil in a community marked with social gaps and
injustices," he said. (swe)

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