Govt eases restrictions on press

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus revoked a controversial regulation enacted by his predecessor Harmoko 14 years ago which gave the minister the right to revoke the license of press publications.

Yunus, an Army lieutenant general formerly known as Yunus Yosfiah, issued a series of new rulings on press and radio broadcasting which he said were part of "reformation in the information sector."

He said that a review of the press law would take time because it had to involve the House of Representatives, but in the meantime he had the power to change some of the more restrictive rules as a temporary measure.

Minister of Information Regulation 1/1998 canceled a 1984 ruling signed by Harmoko in order "to give legal certainty to the press so that they can carry out their tasks, functions and obligations to the best of their ability."

The minister still retains the power to suspend the license of publications that violate the terms of their permits, but only for a "certain period of time".

The decree does not define how long a "certain period of time" actually lasts for.

The minister can also reprimand publishers, but the ultimate sanction for publishers must be sought through a court.

The government's ability to revoke publication licenses has been widely seen as a major impediment to freedom of the press. Although there was no official censorship, editors frequently had to suppress news and indulge in self-censorship to avoid the axe.

Under Harmoko, a former journalist who served as minister of information from 1983 until last year, several newspapers and magazines lost their licenses and were closed because they criticized or offended the government in their reports.

The last major clampdown on the press came in 1994, when three weeklies -- Tempo, Editor and DeTik -- lost their permits.

Harmoko, who is now speaker of the House of Representatives, resisted pressure to lift the restrictions during his last years as minister, arguing that the power to revoke licenses was necessary to protect both the public and publishers.

Since being appointed to the cabinet by President B.J. Habibie last month, Yunus has repeatedly promised to respect freedom of the press, which he said could play an important role in bringing corruption, collusion and nepotism to an end.

He was incredulous when he discovered that to obtain a license a publisher must fulfill 16 conditions and obtain three different permits.

Yesterday, he rolled back many of the stricter rules introduced by Harmoko.

He simplified licensing procedures and abolished the requirement that all publications must obtain recommendations from the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and the Union of Press Publishers.

Now applicants need only meet three conditions to start up a publication: Fill in an application form, register the company and present a list of executives.

Yunus promised a speedy licensing process. "If you apply today, Insya Allah (God willing), the permit will be issued the day after tomorrow."

He said publishers who had lost their licenses should take advantage of the simplified procedures rather than seek to win their old licenses back. "Tempo can reappear quickly with a new license," he said.

He cautioned publishers against paying bribes to obtain licenses. "If an official demands a stake in your company, report him to me," he said.

Publishing companies no longer need government approval to appoint or change their editors. All such appointments are now internal company affairs.

The PWI is no longer the only organization allowed to represent journalists, as it formerly was, but all journalists are still required to join a professional organization.

The government has no objection to journalists joining the Alliance of Indonesia Journalists (AJI), or establish a new organization, he said.

Membership of AJI cost some journalists their jobs when the government put pressure on their editors to dismiss them. AJI was set up in 1994 by young journalists discontented at the ineffective way in which PWI responded to the government closure of three magazines.

Yunus deregulated radio news broadcasting, which will allow private stations to produce and manage their own news, and cut the number of state-run RRI radio new broadcasts which they must relay from 14 per day to four, including one regional news bulletin.

Private radio stations are permitted to work with foreign stations without first seeking government permission.

Media executives immediately hailed Yunus' announcement yesterday.

"Two thumbs up for the minister and the new decrees," Fikri Jufri, editor of Matra men's magazine and a founding member of Tempo, said.

"I am proud that Yunus, who is a military officer, is highly committed to reform," he said, adding that the measures were important to the growth of a healthy and independent press.

With regard to Tempo, Fikri said a team had been established to prepare for the return of the magazine.

Former DeTik editor Eros Jarot was cautious, saying the government still had too much control over the press.

The sanctions were vague, and could be interpreted in different ways, Eros said. "I trust Yunus' commitment to press freedom. But he is not going to be minister for 30 years. What will happen to the press if subsequent ministers are like Harmoko?" he asked.

He said the decree should set a maximum time limit, like one week, for which the government can freeze a license.

Eros said he would prefer to wait for a clearer law rather than resume publication of DeTik immediately.

Mass communications expert Ashadi Siregar hailed Yunus' decision to end the PWI monopoly and welcomed the establishment of alternative professional organizations.

He said each organization must draw up a code of ethics.

"The PWI code of ethics needs to be adjusted to the present conditions," he said.

Ashadi said the press law must also be reviewed. (rms/emb)