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)