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)