Press warned about communist threat

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)