Press warned about communist threat
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko warned against communists infiltrating the press, as the institution is among its favorite weapons used to spread its propaganda.
Addressing a meeting with senior and retired journalists yesterday, Harmoko said that infiltration into the media is a common communist method. "The Indonesian press should remain cautious," he said.
He also said the recent government warnings of the danger of remnants of the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) trying to revive the movement were "very serious".
The meeting with senior journalists were held in commemoration of Jakarta's 469th anniversary and an early celebration of the country's 51th Independence Day which falls on Aug. 17.
Among the senior journalists attending were S.K. Trimurti, Sabam Siagian, Sofjan Lubis and Mohammad Chudori. Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja was also present.
Harmoko himself is among the senior officials who frequently warn the press against communism. Every September, Harmoko repeats the warning in connection with the presentation of the annual "Upholders of Pancasila Press" awards to journalists whose work has been recognized in strengthening Pancasila.
The award presentation was timed to coincide with Pancasila Sanctity Day on Oct. 1. The date was set aside to mark the survival of the state ideology after a coup attempt blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party on the night of Sept. 30, 1965.
Harmoko consistently said that the communists' favorite weapons include agitation, propaganda, creating intrigue, insinuation, slander and pitting one side against another to exploit class struggles.
Mohammad Chudori said he agreed with the need to warn the press against communism; however, he considered the warning an overkill when it was directed at senior journalists, many of who witnessed cases of PKI infiltration.
Besides, "even without Harmoko's warning, the press already realizes the danger of PKI as some of its members are actually its victims," Chudori told The Jakarta Post.
S.K. Trimurti, who is also a former labor minister, praised today's press as an institute which is manned by better educated people than in the 1960s. (31)