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)

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