Press told to put house in order
Press told to put house in order
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): President Soeharto criticized members of the Indonesian press yesterday for violating their own code of ethics, and called on media leaders to put their house in order without government intervention.
"Recently, we are seeing the press violating their own ethics more frequently," Soeharto said in a speech to mark National Press Day.
"Obviously, it would be better if every profession regulated its own behavior in a responsible manner. This way the public or the government does not have to interfere in its affairs in safeguarding society, the people and the country," he said.
This year's National Press Day is centered in Surakarta. It was here 50 years ago yesterday that a group of Indonesian journalists founded the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and used the organization to support the independence struggle against the Dutch at the time.
Their involvement gave the Indonesian press the nickname "the fighting press".
The festive mood yesterday was dampened by the President's criticism of the present day press in Indonesia.
He said the public has been reading articles that violate the principles in the code of ethics, which was written up and agreed upon by journalists.
"For example, (we're reading) news articles that disregard sense and propriety and news that is speculative in nature, all of which could disrupt public peace.
"We are also concerned with articles, pictures and photographs that are misleading, confusing, sowing unrest, and not based on facts or are insulting the intelligence of the people.
"We are also finding articles that twist or blur facts, that mix fact with opinions, are either detrimental for one party or serve the interest of one party, and the violation of the presumption of innocence principle.
The President did not refer to any particular case.
Some members of the Indonesian press came under fire in December for the way they picked up and reported on a leaked government document, which contained various allegations of misconduct towards Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto.
Haryanto was subsequently cleared of all charges by President Soeharto but the incident left a lingering debate, even within the PWI, about the behavior of the press. No one has so far been punished.
Besides the PWI, press behavior is also supervised by the Press Council, which is comprised of government officials, press executives and public figures.
Licenses
The government regulates the press by reserving the power to issue publishing licenses, which can also be rescinded if it believes a violation has been committed. The last closures were in June 1994, when the government revoked the licenses of the Tempo, Editor and DeTik news magazines in one fell swoop.
Soeharto said that as the PWI marks its 50 anniversary, the association, along with the Press Publishers Union (SPS), should strive for greater professionalism, "so that we will have a more professional press all around."
An exhibition by Indonesian press members was laid out in Surakarta documenting 50 years of press progress and also its anticipation of the 21st century.
PT Pos Indonesia, the state-owned post office company, issued commemorative stamps in connection with PWI's anniversary.
Minister of Information Harmoko, who was present at the ceremony, said there are 292 licensed press publications in Indonesia today.
Soeharto used his speech to warn the Indonesian press to retain its identity in the globalization rush which is affecting the information and communication sectors.
He said the Indonesian press must adapt, but that it must retain its fighting press identity, and not go the way of the international press, which he said has become a commercial press.
"The press industry must not transform into a battleground between the various interests, from the journalists, publishers, owners."
"Such press would no longer reflect the character of Indonesia," he said.
He cautioned that any attempt at copying the "global press" would be futile because of the tough competition.
Harmoko, himself a former journalist, emphasized that the main role of the Indonesian press now is to support the nation's development program.
"Given this role, it is appropriate to give the predicate of development press to the Indonesian press," he said. (har/emb)
Reaction -- Page 2
Trial -- Page 3