Foreign newspapers allowed to print here, minister says

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has given landmark approval for the printing of two international newspapers here, Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus said yesterday.

The International Herald Tribune and Asian Wall Street Journal will now be able to print and market their publications here under a joint venture with local companies, the minister said.

"Their market share is only for the middle and upper classes, foreign tourists and hotels, so there is no need (for the local media industry) to worry about this policy," he said after attending a five-hour cabinet meeting on political affairs and security at the Bina Graha presidential office yesterday.

The decision marks the first time the government has allowed foreign media to print in Indonesia.

The media industry is closed to foreign investors under Indonesian law.

The distribution of foreign publications here, excluding Japanese media, is dominated by the privately owned NV Indoprom.

The Tribune does not have an office in Jakarta. A member of the Journal's staff in Jakarta refused to comment on the policy and told The Jakarta Post yesterday to contact his publisher in Hong Kong for comment.

Yunus cited cost-savings and the ability to reach readers early in the morning as the reasons for printing in Jakarta.

Yunus also proudly told journalists that he had approved 62 new press licenses in the two months since he took charge of the Ministry of Information.

The new permits include those for 16 daily newspapers, four weekly newspapers, 16 weekly tabloids, four weekly magazines, and 11 monthly magazines.

"The issuance of the license is often viewed as a restriction of excessive press freedom. In this context it must be understood that the implementation of press freedom in Indonesia is ruled by laws," the three-star Army general said.

During the cabinet meting, State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah complained to Habibie about sex-oriented TV dramas aired by Indonesian TV stations, singling out RCTI and Indosiar.

According to Yunus, Tutty also presented a copy of Sartika health magazine carrying a cover story titled "Do not hesitate to sell yourself" and raised questions in the meeting whether the magazine had violated the nation's journalistic code of ethics.

Habibie said the problem should be solved quickly because it could encourage sexual harassment. (prb)