Foreign newspapers allowed to print here, minister says
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)