Greater openness leaves local press with dilemma

JAKARTA (JP): The greater political openness that Indonesia currently enjoys has put the local press in a difficult position, the National Press Council said yesterday.

Jacob Oetama, the Council's deputy chief overseeing the organization's day-to-day functions, said that the political openness had unquestionably boosted press freedom.

But Indonesian journalists are required to exercise self- censorship, and try not to open the floodgates, Jacob said in a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR).

"The changing political condition has put the press in an awkward position," he told members of House Commission 1 overseeing information, security, defense and foreign affairs.

Jacob, who is also chief editor of Kompas daily, was responding to legislators' allegations that the press had used the current greater openness to overdo their reporting somewhat.

He said the press was obligated to see to it that the openness did not proceed too rapidly, or else it would bring undesired social and political complications.

"But the press holds to its commitment to improve its function as a social control," he said.

The government, the press and the public share an obligation to manage the change, he added.

The four-hour hearing was dominated by discussions on the controversy surrounding the government's plan to allow foreigners to own shares in the local press and broadcasting industries.

House member H. Muchsin from the United Development Party (PPP) faction and Aminullah Ibrahim from the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction said the policy that contradicts existing press laws has apparently confused cabinet ministers. "They have made preposterous comments," Muchsin said.

Indonesian officials, including information minister Harmoko, broke ranks last week and criticized the new regulations designed to attract more foreign investment.

Amid the mounting controversy, President Soeharto on Monday said foreign capital was not allowed to enter Indonesia's media industry although the new regulation, announced June 2, states otherwise.

Jacob welcomed Soeharto's assurances. "The President's guarantee is more than adequate but it's yet to be decided if the government should put it in a decree," he said.

Jacob said local media executives have reacted "as if their beards caught fire" to the new measures on press ownership.

He noted that some government rules already run counter to the press law, but that reaction to them had not been as strong.

The press council yesterday also asked the House to help lower the price of newsprint.

Council officials said government protection measures made the price of Indonesian-made newsprint abroad ironically much cheaper than it is at home.

They said locally made newsprint is abundant in supply and their price could be lower if left to market forces. (pan)