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)