Licensing for press defended

Licensing for press defended

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko, in his capacity as chairman of the Press Council, yesterday defended the press licensing system as a way to ensure the healthy development of the Indonesian press.

Harmoko recognized that some people disliked the press licensing system, but pointed out that this policy is constitutional and is mandated by the 1982 Press Law.

He made the remarks in Bali during the 40th plenary meeting of the Press Council, the industry's watchdog which is staffed by government officials, press executives and public figures.

SIUPP, as the press licensing system is commonly known, is the only legal tool at the government's disposal to control the Indonesian press. There is no official censorship against newspapers and magazines. Three news magazines lost their licenses in 1994 for what the government called violations against the terms of their license.

SIUPP will continue to be relevant as a means to guide the development of the Indonesian press consistent with the Pancasila ideology, Harmoko said.

The minister called the council's attention to what he saw as continued violations by some members of the press corps, such as mixing facts with opinions, or printing allegations that are not supported by facts.

He said that it was out of the Pancasila Press's character to "twist facts, print articles and pictures that are misleading or sensational, and slanderous articles."

The press came under severe criticisms last month for going overboard with the allegations of misconduct by Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, who was subsequently cleared by President Soeharto. (31)