Protests against press bans take artistic forms
JAKARTA (JP): Journalists and employees of three magazines which were closed down by the government resorted to artistic expression yesterday to vent their anger, a change of method from the street protests they held on Wednesday and Thursday.
Hundreds of them turned up at the Taman Ismail Marzuki art and cultural complex, virtually stealing the limelight of an ongoing 20th anniversary celebration of the Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ).
The protesters sang patriotic songs, read poems and gave hard hitting speeches denouncing the government's decision to revoke the publishing licenses of Tempo, Editor and DeTIK.
Around 30 police officers in anti-riot gear were watching the proceeding from a close distance but as it turned out their presence was uncalled for as there were no disturbances.
Some intellectuals and celebrities were spotted among the audience, including Goenawan Mohammad, the former editor-in-chief of Tempo, Eros Jarot of DeTIK, Arswendo Atmowiloto of the defunct Monitor, N. Riantiarno of Theater Koma, films stars Christine Hakim, Slamet Rahardjo and Didi Petet.
Addressing the crowd, senior journalist Aristides Katoppo, whose newspaper Sinar Harapan was banned in 1986, said, "It's still a long way to democracy."
In Bandung, the protest spilled into the streets when 40 journalists from various local publications brought a petition to the West Java legislative council asking them to put pressure on the central government to lift the ban.
They said the clampdown would only worsen people's ignorance and taint the image of the government which has encouraged greater openness.
Police said they would not take any action against the demonstrators as long as they did not incite violence or insult officials. "Expressing ideas is not prohibited so long as it's done in line with the law," Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan, deputy chief in charge of operational affairs, said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information Harmoko, who has been the prime target of the protests, proposed that every one concerned seek to harmonize their perceptions of the concept of a "free and responsible press" before discussing the fate of the three magazines.
Officials have blamed the magazines, and Tempo in particular, for failing to live up to the responsibility demanded of the Indonesian press.
"Without all concerned parties having the same perception on the concept, the ideal free and responsible press will never materialize," Harmoko said.
The three magazines found support from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), the smallest of the three political organizations, which issued a statement on Thursday calling on the government to allow the three to resume publication.
"PDI feels that the action (ban) does not bode well for an open political climate, which is indispensable.
PDI legislators Sukowaluyo and B.N. Marbun yesterday said they will join in future street protests. "We want to prove that the party's pledge to defend democracy is not mere an empty slogan," Sukowaluyo said.
Condemnation also came from a highly respected leader of a Moslem boarding school in Madura, Alawy Muhammad.
Alawy, who runs a school with 1,800 students, said he had sent a letter to President Soeharto urging him to rescind the ban. "Forgiving is a noble deed for a great leader," he said.
The Surabaya Press Club ran a petition signed by journalists and local intellectuals denouncing the government gag orders and urging the Indonesian press to join forces and fight until the magazines resume publication. (18/05/11/bsr/pet/pan)