Press reminded of its obligations

Press reminded of its obligations

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie warned the national press
on Tuesday not to abuse its freedom by libeling, running
agitating reports or those serving to further its ambitions.

Speaking during the commemoration of the country's 53rd
National Press Day, the President expressed his hope that members
of the press would not only remember their rights but also their
moral obligations to the nation.

"Press freedom does not mean a freedom to spread rumors...
especially hoaxes and smear reports which can create unrest and
chaos in society," the President said.

Earlier in the day, the chairman of the press day
commemoration, Leo Batubara, told Habibie, "It would be
impossible for a (shackled) press to channel the people's
aspirations; (it would just follow) the thoughts of a few people
who have power."

The commemoration was held at the State Palace, and attended
by about 200 veteran journalists and media owners form throughout
the country.

This was the President's second warning to the press,
following a statement he made at the 61st anniversary of Antara
news agency in December. Then he said, "The press must maintain
balance in its coverage to ensure it does not become a tyranny
which can dictate public opinion."

"The press must be able to distinguish information from
agitation or propaganda," he reiterated on Tuesday.

Unlike his previous meeting with veteran journalists last June
when he spoke for hours about his expectations for the press,
Habibie did not depart from his official speech on Tuesday.

However, Habibie also promised on Tuesday the national press
would not be subjected again to the type of governmental
oppression which occurred during the 32 years Soeharto held
power.

"We realize that during the New Order regime the national
press was strictly controlled through various regulations and
policies," Habibie stated.

Fikri Jufri, general manager of Tempo newsweekly, and
journalist Ahmad Taufik smiled at this statement.

Tempo was banned in June 1994, shortly after it reported on
the purchase of used warships from Germany. The transaction was
approved by Habibie, then state minister of research and
technology.

Taufik was jailed in 1994 for distributing unlicensed
Independen magazine, which was managed by the then unrecognized
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI). The association was
established as a protest against the official Indonesian
Journalists Association (PWI), which many criticized for failing
to protect journalists from oppression.

While other journalists applauded, PWI chairman Tarman Azzam
sat unsmiling when Habibie said, "We have left the era of a
single organization for any profession."

Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus said the
country had more than 1,000 press licenses, including 630 issued
since Soeharto's resignation last May.

"If we seriously want to develop the nation, this number is
far from sufficient," Yunus said.

Separately, the chairman of the Indonesian TV Journalist
Association, Haris Jauhari, welcomed the planned establishment of
15 new private television stations, which would join the current
six stations, including state-run TVRI.

"There is no problem. This shows that in the present era of
freedom, the Indonesian press -- including television operators
-- are required to work hard in order to survive," Antara quoted
Haris as saying on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Thamrin Amal Tomagola, a sociologist at the
University of Indonesia, said the new found freedom meant the
media would have to be managed even more professionally and
facilitate further reforms.

"Now the press must be even more responsible in their
reporting," he said on the sidelines of a seminar on the June 7
general election.

"In that sense, the press should uphold the principles of
integrity, impartiality, independence and neutrality," Thamrin
remarked.

Dimyati Hartono, a legal expert at Diponegoro University, put
more emphasis on a transparent and neutral discourse in the
press. He also urged the press not to become bogged down by
insignificant issues.

"People will eventually leave media which run libelous or
sensational news," he said. (prb/edt)