'Perspektif' stoppage

'Perspektif' stoppage

From Sinar

Bertrand Russell said that a government can make its people
clever, but it can also make them stupid. I was a little shocked
to learn that Perspektif (a popular and much loved interview
program on SCTV) had been stopped.

I don't think that SCTV initiated it, but that the stoppage
was from outside intervention. It was rather sudden. I really
don't understand why it would happen at all, considering that
Perspektif tried to enhance the intellectual life of Indonesians,
which is useful for developing democracy.

I also don't think that the presence of Mochtar Lubis on
Perspektif was the cause of the termination. The program had
featured various figures who spoke freely and democratically
according to their conscience.

Wimar (the host) once said Perspektif never had a government
official as its guest because he or she could not be expected to
speak freely and honestly. Government officials all speak the
same language.

The axing of Perspektif makes many people increasingly
confident that democracy is not granted by those in power but won
through long and strenuous struggle.

In the process, "we may loose the battle, but not the war".

MARINUS HANDIYONO

Jakarta