Harmoko denies monopolizing TV coverage
Harmoko denies monopolizing TV coverage
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko denies that
Golkar, the ruling political organization which he also chairs,
has monopolized news coverage on the state-owned TVRI, which
falls under his official jurisdiction.
During a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission
I on Wednesday night, Harmoko was besieged by opposition
legislators and their questions about the glut of TV news
coverage of his activities as Golkar chairman.
He contended that the amount of media attention given to
Golkar was based on its activities.
"If their (other parties') programs flourish, then I do not
believe there should be a problem. The print media and the
electronic media will cover them," he said.
Some members of the Commission, which oversees foreign affairs
and security, told the minister that the other two political
parties -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) -- have not been given enough coverage by
TVRI, the only television station permitted by law to run news.
Matori Abdul Djalil of the PPP argued that over-exposure of
one political organization was unhealthy to the development of
Indonesia's democracy.
Such imbalance could be detrimental to the process of
political maturation, which the political parties, including
Golkar, have been trying to forge, he said.
He suggested that the Minister exempt the opposition parties
from the "transport money" that they normally have to pay TVRI
for their news crew to cover their activities.
Harmoko quickly rejected Matori's allegations, saying that
apart from being "pro-active", Golkar's activities carried social
messages crucial to national development.
He pointed out that the activities of PPP chairman Ismail
Hasan Metareum were given wide coverage on television.
"I'm sure all the media will cover it...I'll return it to the
activities of the social political organizations themselves," he
said of the frequency of news broadcasts.
After being elected as Golkar chairman in October 1993, Bung
Harmoko as he is known in Golkar circles, has been stomping
across the nation to meet with the group's cadres ahead of the
1997 general election.
After the hearing, Harmoko explained that he hoped to cover
all 304 regencies in Indonesia. He has just over 90 to go, he
added.
Harmoko refuted the allegations that he has already begun
campaigning for the 1997 election. "These were not campaigns,
these were meetings with Golkar cadres," he said.
Under Indonesian election rules, political organizations are
only allowed to campaign during the three months ahead of the
general elections.
"If the programs are directed towards national interest in
improving welfare, then they will definitely be covered by all of
the media," Harmoko said.
On the issue of press freedom, Harmoko told the hearing that
Indonesia extols the ideal and the universal standing of such
rights as freedom of speech.
Despite its universality, he clarified, each nation has a
different set of values which must be respected.
The government recognizes the media's right to social control,
he said.
"We have never conducted censorship or applied pressure on any
issue," he said, adding that "the Ministry of Information has
never done such a thing, especially since I've become minister of
information."
Harmoko, who was appointed information minister in 1983, said
Indonesia is one of the freest states in the world.
"Media freedom is so big," he said pointing to the
distribution of 186 foreign publications in Indonesia and the
unrestricted acquisition of foreign television stations through
satellite dishes.
Speaking on the newsprint crisis, Harmoko said he had strongly
urged the Association of Newspaper Publishers to establish their
own paper factory as a way of preventing future shortages.
Harmoko also suggested that newsprint producers turn to other
raw materials given that the world supply of pulp is fast
diminishing. (05/mds)