New press publishing permits frozen

JAKARTA (JP): The government has frozen the issuance of press publishing licenses (SIUPP) for 1995, except for special sector publications like trade and sports gazettes, Minister of Information Harmoko announced yesterday.

Harmoko said after presenting press awards at the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) that the government would not issue any new publishing licenses for newspapers or magazines on current affairs in 1995.

"We have too many press publications," the minister said, citing the current 283 licensed publications throughout the country.

The door however is still open for those who want to offer special publications such as trade and sports magazines to the public.

Harmoko's statement comes as the final blow to any remaining hopes by a group of former journalists of the defunct Tempo current affairs magazine of starting a new publication of their own. The journalists have applied to Harmoko's office for a new SIUPP.

Asked about this matter yesterday, Harmoko said there was no chance for them to obtain a new license. "It's final."

He pointed out that the government has already issued one new license to the former Tempo employees, who started up Gatra magazine last month.

Tempo lost its license in June for repeatedly ignoring the government's warnings about its editorial content. The former employees of the magazine have since split into two groups, the one for Gatra, which is financed by timber tycoon Mohamad (Bob) Hasan, and another group intending to establish their own. Some of the former employees are suing Harmoko for his decision to revoke Tempo's SIUPP.

Besides Tempo, two other current affairs magazine Editor and DeTik also lost their licenses in one swoop in June.

Asked whether he thinks there will be more magazine closures next year, Harmoko said yesterday that there was no reason why any publication should lose its SIUPP as long as it complies with the regulations laid out by the Press Council.

"I hope there will not be any need for any media ban in 1995," he said.

He warned that the government will not hesitate to punish publications, which violate regulations and the journalistic code of ethics.

Looking back at outgoing 1994, he said the local media industry overall has done its part in supporting the national development program.

The press has not only been reporting on the development activities, it has also fulfilled its function as a mechanism of social control, the former journalist said.

The government always welcome any criticism from the press, as long as this is done within the prescribed guidelines and is constructive, he said, adding that the press also has the duty of educating people and encouraging critical thinking and reasoning.

Harmoko yesterday presented awards for the best articles in connection with this year's National Awakening Day.

Desi Fernanda from the Bandung Post won for best article on democracy, and Maria Hartiningsih from Kompas daily won the feature writing award for her article profiling Kardinah Soepardjo Rustam, an activist of the government-sponsored PKK, a grassroots organization for the support of family welfare.

Suara Pembaruan won in the category for best editorial, while the Medan-based Analisa was named as the best press publication.

PWI's Secretary-General, Parni Hadi, said there was no winner for this year's best report.

The four-member team of judges, presided over by Tribuana Said, selected the winners from 39 publications during the period of May 20, 1993, to May 20, 1994.

In his speech, Harmoko told the domestic press not to be carried away by the actions of the foreign press, which discredited the nation and its government in the name of human rights.

"We have to stick to the state ideology Pancasila," he said.

He underlined that the domestic press should maintain Indonesia's existing values and nationalism. (sim)