Golkar blasted over TV air time monopoly

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) legislator accused Harmoko, the chairman of the ruling political organization Golkar, yesterday of "disguised" election campaigning through the television stations which he virtually controls.

Legislator Soenarjo of Commission II raised the issue during a hearing with Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. in his capacity as the patron of the country's political organizations.

Soenarjo pointed out that Harmoko, who is also the minister of information, appeared almost every night on news programs broadcast by the state run TVRI and the privately-owned stations, wearing the amber color symbolizing the dominant Golongan Karya (Golkar) political organization.

Harmoko's cabinet portfolio yields him the power to control the nation's mass media, including the television networks.

Soenarjo called the frequent television appearances covert campaigning on the part of Golkar. "My grandson keeps asking me if Bung Harmoko has reserved TVRI so that he can use it all the time," he said.

In contrast, he said, the other two political parties, PDI and the United Development Party (PPP), receive only small amounts of air time, even for their major activities like national congresses.

Yogie refused to comment on Soenarjo's allegations. When journalists pressed him for a stance after the hearing, he said, "I don't know if Pak Harmoko is campaigning for Golkar."

Soenarjo said he was worried that Harmoko's aggressive actions were indications that the authorities might find reasons to restrict election campaigning in 1997.

"Is it possible that Golkar is campaigning now because it knows that the 1997 campaigns will be restricted?" he said.

Soenarjo reminded Yogie of the 1992 consensus in which the government agreed to involve the political parties in the entirety of the 1997 general election process.

As the sole sponsor of elections, the government controls the polling process. (pan)