Decree on press 'may be reviewed'
JAKARTA (JP): The new minister of information, Gen. R. Hartono, said yesterday that he would consider reviewing the 1984 ministerial decree that empowers him to revoke the publishing licenses of newspapers and magazines.
"Several issues in the 1984 Minister of Information Decree are substantial enough for discussion," Hartono said after receiving the ministerial portfolio from his predecessor Harmoko.
Hartono made no firm commitment not to revoke publishing licenses, but said it was up to press executives to discuss ways of preventing any closures.
"Everyone, the government and members of the Indonesian press, hopes there will be no more revocation of publishing licenses," said the former Army chief of staff who remains in active military service until the end of this month.
The Indonesian Journalists Association's board of Honorary Council's deputy chairman, Jakob Oetama, said yesterday the entire press law should be reviewed. "The 1966 Press Law should be reformed to fit changes in local and international politics," he said.
Jakob said he hoped Hartono's appointment would bring fresh air to the Indonesian press.
Harmoko's 14-year tenure as information minister saw the revocation of publishing licenses of several periodicals, including the Sinar Harapan daily in 1987, Prioritas daily in 1988. In 1994, three news magazines -- Tempo, Editor and DeTik -- were closed down in one swoop.
Hartono called on print and broadcast media to strive for greater professionalism.
"We have many good newspapers. But some need improving," he said but did not specify them.
Promise
Hartono promised he would try not to influence newspapers' editorial policy. But said he would not hesitate to use his power if he found any press articles threatened national security.
Harmoko said after the hand-over ceremony that he had long prepared to relinquish the cabinet post.
"My father had frequently reminded me that I should prepare to make way for a successor as soon as I move into a new post in any organization," said Harmoko, whom Soeharto has kept in his cabinet as state minister of special assignments.
Harmoko denied suggestions that he was surprised by his premature replacement. "I've lost nothing. For me, it's a blessing to be given the state minister of special assignments."
Many people were surprised by the cabinet changes announced last Friday, recalling that President Soeharto had rarely changed his cabinet halfway through a five-year term.
Hartono, who turned 56 Tuesday, reached the mandatory retirement age for military officers last year when he turned 55. President Soeharto then extended his service for one year.
Hartono said he would be willing to act as a mediator in the current legal wrangle between PT IPTN, the state-owned aircraft company, and The Jakarta Post.
"The dispute should be settled through deliberation," he said.
IPTN has threatened to take the Post to court for the way it covered a CN-235 plane crash in Serang, West Java, last month.
IPTN's lawyers said Tuesday that their clients demanded that the Post take out full-page advertisements in various local and foreign newspapers for three days to apologize for its erroneous article, and pay an undetermined amount of compensation.
The Post has until Tuesday to respond to the demands before IPTN's lawyers proceed with the court action.
In a related development, Harjono Tjitrosoebono, chief of the board of trustees of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) and Soekardjo Adidjojo, a board member, said yesterday they were not part of IPTN's team of lawyers as originally reported by newspapers.
"I only gave them my legal opinion of IPTN's planned lawsuit. I'm not part of the team," Harjono said. "I am not involved in the team and they never told me that my name was included in the team of 10 lawyers," he said. (imn/05)