Controversy widens over information ministry revival

Controversy widens over information ministry revival

JAKARTA (JP): The reported plan to revive the information
ministry, which was dissolved in 1999 by former president
Abdurrahman Wahid, was the target of increasing opposition from
various parties on Thursday.

Bachtiar Chamsyah, deputy chairman of the United Development
Party (PPP) faction at the House of Representatives, said it was
no longer urgent for the new government to revive the dissolved
ministry because there have been hundreds of newspapers, weeklies
and TV stations established, which are ready to help promote its
development programs.

"It would be ineffective and inefficient for the government as
the ministry's main tasks can be handled by the print and
electronic media. Furthermore, our mass media is still haunted by
former president Soeharto's repressive government which
authorized the ministry to strictly limit press freedom through,
among others things, the banning of several print media
publications," he said on Thursday.

According to Bachtiar, the government should maintain freedom
of the press by allowing the mass media to help control itself in
the future.

Alexander Rusli, an information technology expert from the
University of Indonesia, shared Bachtiar's sentiment, suggesting
that, "establishing such a ministry would be wasting money and
energy because the ministry will only be used by certain parties
as a financial source for their idle projects."

The plan to revive the information ministry was revealed
recently by Arifin Panigoro, chairman of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the
House of Representatives (DPR).

Arifin said the ministry should be reestablished to meet the
challenges of information technology, as well as to convey
government policy.

An executive of the Association of Indonesian Private Radio
Stations (PRSSNI) said that the plan to revive the ministry and
change its name to the ministry of information technology
contravened the Constitution because it could be used to control
the existing media.

"Instead of reviving the ministry, the government can empower
the National Information Agency (LIN) to promote its programs to
the public," Antara quoted PRSSNI chairman Soetoyo Soekamihardjo
as saying.

In Semarang, Central Java, about 50 journalists and activists
staged a rally, protesting the planned revival of the information
ministry.

"Our objection to the plan is aimed at upholding democracy in
the country," Ecep, one of the protesters, said.

In Surabaya, East Java, around 30 journalists staged a similar
rally for the same reason. The protesters said they rejected any
form of limitations on press freedom.

The protesters unfurled banners reading Tolak belenggu
kebebasan pers (Reject restrictions on press freedom) and Deppen
tak punya hak hidup (the information ministry has no right to
exist).

Despite the opposition, however, Rachmat Kosasih, a consulting
director of Computer Associates (CA), urged the government to
establish a ministry dealing with information technology affairs,
including protection of the booming software industry.

"The presence of such a ministry is extremely necessary now
because Indonesia should catch up with other countries, such as
India, the United States and Japan, that have successfully
developed information technology," he said. (rms/har/nur)