Habibie vows to protect media freedoms
Habibie vows to protect media freedoms
SEMARANG (JP): President B.J. Habibie assured the country's
media leaders here on Saturday his government would protect their
freedoms, saying there would be no more censorship or
restrictions of the press.
Opening the 20th congress of the Indonesian Journalists
Association (PWI) marked by a demonstration of dozens of students
demanding his resignation, Habibie promised that no government
official would be allowed to intimidate the media or prevent it
from exercising its freedom of expression.
"The government will not interfere in any news reporting. The
government will never dictate, direct or telephone the editorial
board of a media organization about what news must be reported or
not reported," Habibie said.
Over the years, the media often complained of government or
Armed Forces (ABRI) officials frequently calling to tell them not
to run politically sensitive stories, including on corruption or
even sex scandals.
"The decision to report or not to report any news fully
depends on the media itself," the President said.
Under the 32-year-long New Order regime of former president
Soeharto, PWI was the only journalist organization recognized by
the government. All journalists were obligated to become members.
A PWI recommendation was necessary not only for the
establishment of a new publication but also for the promotion of
any chief editors.
Two months after the government closed down weekly news
magazines Tempo and Editor and tabloid DeTIK in June 1994, 58
journalists and antigovernment activists signed the Sirnagalih
Declaration, in which they rejected the regulation forcing all
journalists to join the association.
They also established the Independent Journalist Alliance
(AJI), whose leader, Ahmad Taufik, was jailed for his activities
to bring about a freer media.
The situation, however, changed in May after Habibie replaced
Soeharto. Now, media workers are free to join or establish any
organization. TV journalists recently established their own
organization.
"The media's working spirit must be based on the principles of
truth, honesty, justice, balanced coverage and the avoidance of
any form of prejudice," the President noted.
During the ceremony, Habibie was accompanied by Minister of
Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus, Armed Forces Chief Gen.
Wiranto and Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung.
The main agenda of the two-day congress is to elect a new PWI
executive board to replace the former board under Sofyan Lubis'
leadership.
Lubis is the chief editor of the popular Pos Kota, which is
half-owned by House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Harmoko.
Several senior journalists, including the official news agency
Antara's general manager, Parni Hadi, and Dahlan Iskan of Jawa
Pos, have been named as possible candidates to replace Lubis.
The opening ceremony was held at the governor's official
residence, Wisma Perdamaian. The construction of the Rp 7.1
billion house in 1996 sparked controversy because then Central
Java governor Suwardi said at the time it would be the country's
most luxurious governor's mansion.
The students ended their protest soon after the President and
his entourage left the venue. (har/prb)