Different reports, cause confusion

Different reports, cause confusion

If you want to maintain peace in your heart and mind, do not
read too many newspapers. Stick to one, because this will prevent
you from becoming confused and frustrated.

I read many dailies, among others The Jakarta Post and
Kompas, both of which are reputable newspapers backed by an
experienced professional staff. But I was confused when reading
an article on "yellowization" printed on Jan. 16, 1997.

The Jakarta Post reported: "A high ranking government official
yesterday criticized the Central Java administration's
controversial policy that orders the painting of objects in
public places in Golkar's color of yellow. Director General for
Social and Political Affairs Sutoyo N.K. expressed his regret at
the scheme, which has created a dispute pitting the Surakarta
mayoralty against activists of the United Development Party (PPP)
whose party color is green. Such problems would have not happened
if the Central Java Administration had followed the mechanism
recommended by the 1974 Law on Regional Government." This
criticism made Sutoyo the first top official to take a stance
against the policy favoring Golkar.

However Kompas reported: "I am not blaming the regional
government of Surakarta nor the PPP regional executives on the
issue of "yellowization", in that region. That is a problem of
the regional government of Surakarta and not the Ministry of Home
Affairs. The "yellowization" campaign, which has even declared
that every street banner be painted yellow, is affecting a number
of areas. But Sutoyo explained that every region is an autonomous
area, where the head of that region has the authority to regulate
his area according to Law No. 5, 1974. Sutoyo was not clear on
whether there was a special instruction from the Ministry of Home
Affairs on the "yellowization" campaign in the regions prior to
the upcoming general elections."

In my opinion The Jakarta Post suggested that Sutoyo did not
agree with the "yellowization" campaign and criticized these
actions, but Kompas, on the other hand, quoted Sutoyo as not
entirely condemning "yellowization".

I am really confused, because two reputable newspapers
reported different statements presented on the same day by the
same official i.e. the Director General of Social and Political
Affairs of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta