Press refuses to back out of PDI row
Press refuses to back out of PDI row
JAKARTA (JP): Observers and editors yesterday cold-shouldered
a call by Media Indonesia daily that the domestic media should
blackout reports on the protracted leadership conflict in the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Scholars and journalists contacted by The Jakarta Post agreed
that the call to abstain from reporting amounted to an attempt to
duck one of the press' responsibilities, namely reporting the
news. The call, had it been heeded, would deprive the public of
its right to know what is happening in the country.
"If such a call is accepted, from where can people get the
accurate information that they might need?" communications expert
Ashadi Siregar said.
Media Indonesia, one of the local major newspapers, yesterday
ran an editorial and a call for a blackout on stories on PDI for
at least one month.
"We urge the media to refrain from reporting news (on the
dispute), regardless of whether they are for Soerjadi or
Megawati, until the party has settled its internal dispute," the
call said. It was referring to the two principals in the party's
leadership crisis: government-backed chairman Soerjadi and ousted
chief Megawati Soekarnoputri.
In a television interview last night, Surya Paloh, Media
Indonesia's general manager said that the call is genuine, though
people can interpret it as they wish.
"We want to refrain from perpetrating further polemic on the
leadership crisis," Surya said. He acknowledged, however, that
this morning's edition of his paper would run the story on
Soerjadi's meeting with President Soeharto yesterday.
The editorial also called for both camps involved in the party
conflict to contemplate on what was happening to help find a
solution.
Political observers Soedjati Djiwandono and Budyatna
questioned the call's sincerity and the purposes it served.
"What kind of contemplation are people supposed to do, when
it's clear that the government supports one faction and rejects
the other," said Soedjati of the Center for Strategic and
International Studies.
Several newspaper editors said that they had no intention of
heeding the call.
"We are dedicated to our readers, we have to give them
balanced information," Imam Pudjiono, assistant chief editor of
Surabaya Post told The Jakarta Post.
Ninok Leksono, deputy chief editor of Kompas daily, said that,
for the moment, Kompas has no comment to make on the call.
Sofyan Lubis, chairman of the Indonesian Journalists'
Association said that it is up to individual publications whether
to reject or heed the call.
Ramlan Sumitradilaga, deputy chief editor of the Armed Forces
Angkatan Bersenjata daily said that each paper has its own goals
and policy.
"Ours happens to be to adhere to the government and all of its
regulations," Ramlan said, while stressing that his newspaper has
no intention of adhering to calls other than those from the
government.
Human rights campaigner Soetandyo Wignyosoebroto said the
blackout served no purpose even if it was meant to help resolve
the Indonesian press' current deplorable situation.
"Indonesian journalists must be tired of being pressured.
Though many are committed to the people, they face many pressures
from those in power," said the member of the National Commission
on Human Rights.
Human rights campaigner Hendardi said the call represented an
attempt of the frustrated press to vent its feelings.
"If the press should be freed of anything, it should be freed
of government influence," he said.
Hendardi said that the free speech forum which had been held
daily at the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central
Jakarta, is preferred by many people because it's there that they
can get information unavailable elsewhere. (14/16/27)