Government wants to review 1982 press law: Hartono

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)