Harmoko offers a way out for banned magazines

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko last night rejected calls to reverse his decision to ban three news magazines last week, stressing that the move was legal.

"Out of the question!" Harmoko said, when the press bans were raised during a hearing with the Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) which deals with the media affairs.

He offered the magazines a respectable way out for all parties concerned. "We can issue new licenses for them," he said.

Tempo lost its publishing license for its editorial content while DeTIK and Editor lost theirs because their operations violated the terms of the licenses. The government said that repeated warnings were ignored by the magazines.

The long awaited meeting is the first public forum where the minister explained the government's decision to revoke the publishing licenses of the three magazines.

Harmoko said the move was legal and consistent with the 1982 Press Law. "It was precisely because the government wants to enforce the law that the licenses were revoked," he said. He added that reversing the decisions would be against the law.

The questions came chiefly from representatives of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction, including Sabam Sirait and B.N. Marbun. The minority party had spoken out against the revocation of the licenses.

The minister called for a more effective interaction between the press, the government and the public, stressing that each one of them had a role to play.

Harmoko, a former journalist who has been minister of information since 1983, acknowledged that the press served as a social control mechanism. "But we need a constructive, and not destructive, press."

He suggested that anyone who is not happy with the government's decision could take legal action, pointing to the state administrative court as one possible recourse.

Elaborating on his offer for new licenses, he proposed everyone concerned should first strive to harmonize their understanding of the concept of a free and responsible press.

In the morning, the same commission received representatives of Tempo and DeTIK, who urged the House to repeal the 1984 government ruling that empowers it to revoke press publishing licenses.

Goenawan, Eros

Goenawan Mohamad, the director of Tempo, and DeTIK's chief editor Eros Djarot held a joint audience with the House's Commission I, led by its chairperson Aisyah Aminy.

The two men found a more receptive audience when they held a meeting with the PDI faction. Megawati Soekarnoputri, the party's chairperson, was present.

Goenawan and Eros argued that 1984 decree contradicted the DPR-enacted Press Law of 1982 which guarantees press freedom.

They argued that the use of the decree, which virtually closed down the magazines, ran counter to the spirit of openness which the government and the DPR have been pursuing.

Aisyah said the House could not do much about the controversial decree. "The authority lies with the court," said the legislator from the United Development Party (PPP).

During a press conference after the meetings, Goenawan questioned the government's assessment that his magazine had threatened the national stability.

"Good stability is built on legal certainty rather than on use of power," he said. "If the government often uses the axe to maintain it, it will only spread fear."

Goenawan said he had yet to weigh the possibility of suing the government at the state administrative court as many had suggested.

Legislator Sabam shared his reluctance to bring the case to court. "Apparently, even the government thought about taking the magazines to court but then decided to simply close the papers," Sabam said.

When asked to comment on Harmoko's call for the government, the press and the public to harmonize their understanding of the concept of press freedom, Goenawan said there should be dialog instead of monologue. (pan/hbk/rid/emb)