Government to review pess law if needed

Government to review pess law if needed

JAKARTA (JP): The government is prepared to review the press
law, including licensing procedures, if the Press Council
suggests it, Minister of Information R. Hartono said yesterday.

"If the Press Council feels that a review is necessary, I will
recommend to the government to draft the bill," said Hartono, who
was speaking in his capacity as the council chairman.

Hartono acknowledged a need to synchronize the press law and
the forthcoming broadcasting law, which is expected to be enacted
soon. The House of Representatives endorsed the government-
sponsored bill last week.

While the 1982 Press Law stipulates that the press is not
subject to any official censorship, the government controls it
through a licensing system.

Several newspapers and magazines have closed down after they
lost their publication licenses. Tempo, Editor and DeTik
magazines were the last to be shut, in one swoop in 1994.

Hartono opened the council's 41st plenary session yesterday.
The gathering is expected to discuss whether or not to call for a
review of the 1982 press law.

The council, the press watchdog, comprises government
officials, media executives and representatives of the public.

Its deputy chairman, Kompas chief editor Jakob Oetama, said
the meeting would also draw up a set of recommendations regarding
the development of the industry for the 1998-2003 State Policy
Guidelines which will be enacted by the People's Consultative
Assembly in March.

Jakob said the industry faced new challenges, particularly
from new, evolving, media.

The rapid growth of broadcast media had forced the press
industry to reorganize, he said, adding that the press needed to
be "adaptable, innovative and creative." (10)