Press is third sociopolitical force: Expert

Press is third sociopolitical force: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): Observers agreed the criticism heaped on the
Indonesian press recently came because its social and political
clout has grown so much it has discomforted some parties.

Darmanto Jatman, a lecturer at the Semarang-based Diponegoro
University's School of Psychology, said the press has become the
third major force after the military and the bureaucracy.

Darmanto cited the press' role in the conflict between ousted
chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati
Soekarnoputri and government-backed ouster Soerjadi.

"The newspapers report daily about the chaos in the PDI under
Soerjadi, so the public knows who's really fit to lead the
party," Darmanto said.

Harsono Suwardi of the Jakarta-based University of Indonesia's
School of Social and Political Sciences agreed the Indonesian
press had indeed grown to be so powerful that reports influenced
decision makers. Harsono, however, refused to rank the press as
the third social force, believing that it should instead remain
independent and exert control over the military and bureaucracy.

The two experts were commenting on President Soeharto's speech
Monday which criticized the press for pitting the views of one
leader against another and for exposing differences of opinion, a
practice which Soeharto said would only confuse people and
diminish their self-confidence.

Soeharto also rapped the press over the knuckles for
exaggerated reporting on issues of economic disparity and
poverty, something he said which could lead to rioting which
could in turn destroy the social foundation and economy.

Only hours after Soeharto's speech, many others pounced on the
press. Cabinet ministers and legislators alike contributed with
their criticism or low opinion of the press.

Antara reported that Darmanto said one of the reasons the
criticism came so hard and fast against the press was due to
"power competition" in the bureaucracy, the military, and between
intellectuals, including the press.

He cited the murder of Yogyakarta journalist Fuad Muhammad
Syafruddin which was allegedly linked to a local regent's promise
to pay Rp 1 billion (US423,370) to the Dharmais Foundation, led
by President Soeharto, if he was reelected.

"The press has exerted pressure (on the authorities) in
relation to (violence) in Situbondo, Singkawang, and
Tasikmalaya," he said. "The press has been able to steer public
opinion...there's a political strength in that."

"If the press makes a mistake, there will be multiple effects
on the public, and the press knows this very well..knows the
effects," he said. "This is probably why President Soeharto
warned it against pitting different opinions against each other,
which would only confuse the people."

Harsono agreed there were aspects to the Indonesian press that
justified President Soeharto's criticism. "The press is so
bombastic sometimes, it creates the impression that things are
hopeless in Indonesia," he said. "Their reports influence
decision makers."

"We all really hoped that the press would be more mature, and
be able to tell what should be reported and what should not," he
said. "The press should be objective, stating facts as facts."

"We really can't blame the elite for feeling that way about
the press. Once the very top man (Soeharto) spoke out against the
press, the others who had been holding grudges would certainly
follow suit."

Harsono called on the press to be mindful of its original
function, namely to be a body that helped control how the
military and the bureaucracy ran the country. (swe)