Let press inform the public, says Forum for Democracy

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian press must be allowed to continue to report on events of public interest, including the controversy over the government's procurement of warships from Germany, the Forum for Democracy said yesterday.

In a statement made available to the press, the forum appealed to the government not to act hastily on remarks by President Soeharto last week suggesting that the Indonesian press had driven a wedge between two ministers and fanned the controversy to the point of disrupting stability.

The press reports on the procurement of warships "were still in the interest of the public because they have allowed the people to know about the complexity of the issue that involved states asset and finances, which belong to the people," it said.

The Indonesian press also found support from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) on the issue yesterday, who said the accusation that the press is responsible for the controversy is "unfair."

"It is the government which has not been transparent about the procurement of the warships and this has sown confusion as reflected in the press reports," the PDI faction in the House of Representatives said at a hearing with Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad.

"From the President's statement, we can draw the conclusion that the procurement of ships has confused the public, including the PDI faction."

President Soeharto last week defended the plan to purchase the warships from the former arsenal of East Germany, saying that the nation needs a strong and dependable navy and that the second hand vessels were a good buy given current budget limitations.

Soeharto also warned that the government would take action against those who were fanning the controversy, seeming to be a pointed reference to the press corps.

The procurement, including the price of the 39 ships, the cost of refitting them and buying spare parts and ammunition as well as upgrading a number of naval bases, is now estimated to cost between $320 million and $490 million.

Soeharto's strong remarks against the press were discussed at a meeting of Forum Democracy, a group of independent scholars headed by Abdurrahman Wahid.

The meeting, led by Abdurrahman, agreed that the government has a duty to maintain stability, but the press also has a duty to inform the public. "The press which serves the public's interest must not be subjected to government pressure."

"Besides, there are no indications so far that national stability has been disrupted or under threat, real or perceived, by the way the press has been pursuing political openness" it said, adding that if there are indications that the press had violated any regulations, then the government should take legal recourse.

"We also appeal to the press to continue to conduct its task in the same rhythm because the chief responsibility of the press is to act as the eyes and ears of the people." (emb)