Government wants to review 1982 press law: Hartono

JAKARTA (JP): The government is seeking to review the 1982 press law to avoid contradictions in a proposed law on broadcasting, Minister of Information R. Hartono said yesterday.

Hartono said the highly controversial clause relating to the publishing permit was among those to be reviewed.

But, he added, the review did not necessarily mean that requirement of the permit would be abolished, Antara reported.

"It's true that we (the government) need to review the ruling and update it as required," he said. "We will carefully determine if a ruling on publishing permits should be dropped."

Next month deliberations will resume on the broadcasting bill, which was endorsed by the House of Representatives but refused by President Soeharto. The President said he refused to pass the bill because some rulings would be impossible to implement.

Critics say that the government has been treating electronic media "better" than the print media. For instance, the government can close down the print media but such closure is not mentioned in the bill on broadcasting.

Addressing another issue, Hartono warned yesterday that certain political interest groups were making efforts to disrupt the presidential election next March by the People's Consultative Assembly.

Hartono did not elaborate on his statement, but asked the legislators to keep a watchful eye when they nominate candidates for the vice presidency.

The assembly will convene to deliberate the broad guidelines of state policies and elect the president and vice president for the 1998/2003 period.

With incumbent President Soeharto almost certain to extend his tenure, nomination of the vice president will steal the limelight in the general session.

Nobody has been officially nominated for the state's second highest post, but several big names, including Hartono himself, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita have been tipped the hot favorites.

"We should avoid following an unexpected stream," Hartono said. "Let's stay alert to vested interests behind a certain group's nomination (for the vice presidency).

"There is a clear mechanism for the nomination but never reduce the level of alertness."

Polemics have surfaced on the vice presidency nomination, with some observers suggesting an open candidacy while each of the four House factions are opting to delay disclosing their candidates until the general session.

Hartono said the order was maintained across the country but the political atmosphere would change prior to the induction of the next House legislators on Oct. 1. (amd)