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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