PWI clamps down on dissenting members
PWI clamps down on dissenting members
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) has called on all its branches to act against members who challenge its role as the only legal, government-sanctioned journalist organization.
PWI Chairman Sofyan Lubis asked branch offices throughout the country to weed out members who don't recognize it as the only journalist association.
"PWI members who don't recognize the association better terminate their membership," Sofyan asserted after attending a celebration of National Press Day in Bali on Tuesday.
"I believe there are dissenting journalists in some PWI branches," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
The Jakarta PWI branch sacked 13 of its members last week for challenging it when the government closed down the Tempo, DeTIK and Editor weeklies last year.
The journalists, along with 50 others, signed the Sirnagalih Declaration in August that led to the establishment of a rival organization called the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).
According to Sofyan, PWI gave the 13 members a six-month probation period, but said they failed to behave. "So, their membership was nullified," Sofyan said.
Minister of Information Harmoko threatened on Saturday that the government would take action against mass media publications that employ AJI members.
Harmoko reiterated that the press publication permit stipulates that licensed media should only employ PWI members.
Sofyan alleged that there are several dissenters in Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
He reminded members of the press that the 1969 Information Ministry Regulation stipulates that every Indonesian journalist must join a government-sanctioned organization for journalists.
When it was suggested that dissension grew out of dissatisfaction with the PWI, Sofyan curtly replied, "I don't know, but the PWI has always tried to correct and improve itself."
"We (PWI leaders) have visited chief editors, and asked them why their new reporters are reluctant to join PWI... we asked them all," he said.
"Sometimes, these new reporters don't know (about the requirement to join PWI), sometimes they just don't want to know," he said.
"We'll tell those who don't know," he assured. As for journalists who "just don't want to know, that's another problem," he said.
Sofyan also threatened to take harsh action against PWI members who are involved in the publication of underground media critical of the government.
Newsletters
Harmoko reiterated on Tuesday the government's determination to crack down on journalists and activists publishing unlicensed newsletters. Their number has grown since the closure of the three weeklies last year.
AJI publishes the Independen monthly, while a number of outspoken non-governmental organizations, such as Pijar, publish similar newsletters. Activists and dissenting journalists call the newsletters "alternative media".
Harmoko insisted that alternative publications are not needed because the existing mainstream media has been able to accommodate the thoughts and aspirations developing in society.
"All media in Indonesia must refer to one order only," he said. "There is no alternative, we must strongly discipline those who publish unlicensed media," he said.
He acknowledged that underground publishers can always request a publication permit, but added that he would never grant it to those who are "cultivating thoughts which are against the state- ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution." (swe)