PWI observes 50 anniversary in Surakarta

PWI observes 50 anniversary in Surakarta

By B. Sutikno

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Today is the 50th anniversary of
the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI). On Feb. 9, 1946,
when the six-month-old Indonesian Republic was struggling to
maintain its independence, a number of journalists gathered in
Surakarta to establish a press organization. The date later
became National Press Day.

An Indonesian press existed long before independence was
proclaimed on Aug. 17, 1945. The first Javanese newspaper,
Bromartani, appeared in Surakarta in 1855. In the following year
the first newspaper written in the Melayu dialect, which later
became Bahasa Indonesia, was published in Surabaya under the name
Soerat Kabar Bahasa Melajoe. The first newspaper to appear in
Indonesia was actually the Dutch-language Bataviase Nouvelles,
which came out in 1744. Only after independence, however, did the
Indonesian press find direction; to support the struggle for
independence, inform, educate and entertain the people. The press
even helped in the fight against the return of Dutch oppression.

During the Indonesian Language Congress on Jan. 4, 1946 in
Yogyakarta, several journalists from Jakarta, Yogyakarta and
Surakarta agreed to assemble in Surakarta to promote the new
republic and establish an association for journalists.

The organizing committee of the congress was formed on Jan 25,
1946. The chairman was Burhanuddin Mohammad Diah (B.M. Diah) from
the Jakarta-based Merdeka daily. Sumartono, from the Kedaulatan
Rakyat daily, became deputy chairman, and R.M. Soemanang
Suriowinoto was appointed secretary for the Yogyakarta and
Jakarta regions.

The congress was held in the Sasono Suko club -- now the Press
Monument building -- from Feb. 9 to Feb. 10, 1946. Information
Minister Mohammad Natsir Gelar Datuk Sinaro Pandjang and Minister
of Defense Amir Sjarifuddin attended the event.

Some 300 guests, made up of journalists, publishers, radio
broadcasters, and Ministry of Information representatives,
gathered on the first day of the congress. The journalists came
from Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Surakarta, Surabaya,
Kediri, Mojokerto, Malang, Padang and Ujungpandang. Among them
were the late vice president Adam Malik, veteran journalist
Rosihan Anwar, Manai Sophiaan, Suwardi Tasrif, Anwar
Tjokroaminoto, Sajuti Malik, Usmar Ismail, Widajat, H. Azis, and
Tuti Azis. Soebagijo IN came as observer.

Association

The congress was far from formal and far from organized. After
all, Indonesia had only been free for six months. Not trusting
the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword, participants
carried pistols, machine guns, bamboo spears, swords, machetes,
and kris along with their pencils. The audience was a ragtag
band, many wearing their hair long.

When the congress opened at 8 p.m., B.M. Diah failed to appear
because the train from Jakarta had broken down. Soemantoro was
forced to lead the meeting of non-stop marathon speeches.

By 10:30 p.m., the congress had managed to put through a
budget and appoint an organizing committee. The organizing
committee then agreed upon the name Persatoean Wartawan Indonesia
(Indonesian Journalists Association). The name became official an
half hour past midnight.

Tan Malaka

The second session was held on Feb. 10, 1946. Only 92 of the
200 journalists eligible to vote bothered to attend. Among the
guests was Ibrahim Gelar Datuk Tan Malaka, a noted journalist and
freedom fighter.

The second session opened at 8:30 a.m. The majority of voters
accepted the proposed plan, and immediately ratified the rules of
the association.

A special meeting was called at 10:30 a.m., at which Tan
Malaka delivered a speech lasting two and a half hours.

"In our fight and struggle right now, we shouldn't think in
lines of logic or analogy alone, we should foremost be dialectic
revolutionaries. This means that we should grasp every
opportunity available according to place, time and condition,"
said Tan Malaka.

A third session, to form an organizing board, began at 2 p.m.
It was decided that R.M. Soemanang Soeriowinoto should lead the
association.

In his first speech as chairman of the press association,
Soemanang declared that all members, including special members
and publishers, should agree to the plan to solicit donations for
the new organization. The association expected to collect 10,000
guilders in three months.

Soemanang also announced the names of the executive members of
the organization: Sjamsuddin Soetan Makmoer, chief editor of the
Rakyat daily in Jakarta, B.M. Diah, chief editor of Merdeka in
Jakarta, Soemantoro, chief editor of Kedaulatan Rakjat in
Yogyakarta, Ronggo Danoekoesoemo chief editor of Soeara Rakjat in
Kediri, Djawoto, director of the Antara news agency in
Yogyakarta, and Harsono Tjokroaminoto chief editor of Al-Djihad
in Yogyakarta.

Moments after the announcement, B.M. Diah arrived in the club.
He was warmly welcomed because many people had feared the worst
had happened to the Merdeka chief editor. Traveling was hazardous
at the time.

The structure of the organization was now functional. There
were no work sections or sectors yet. The organizing committee
decided that its secretariat should be located in Surakarta. It
appointed Soedardjo Tjokrosisworo to chair the secretariat.

That evening the Ministry of Information held a reception at
Hotel Garuda in Yogyakarta. Minister of Information Mohammad
Natsir stressed in his welcoming speech that "the Army and the
people have to be convinced that our aim is total independence."

Defense Minister Amir Sjarifuddin echoed Natsir's thoughts,
stating, "Journalists should take it upon themselves to convince
the public that we are following the right politics; to unite the
people and the army, so that they may support one another and the
units of TRI (peoples' army) and guerrilla-fighters."

Changes

Soemanang's leadership was six months old when it was forced
to suspend B.M. Diah from the organizing committee owing to
differences in opinion. The decision was made at an executive
meeting and then at a congress held in Yogyakarta on Oct. 28,
1946.

At the same time, a new organization called United Indonesian
Journalists was formed under the chairmanship of Oemar Santoso,
from the Soeara Oemoem daily. Soewardi Tasrif of Berita Indonesia
was secretary, and the ousted B.M. Diah became an assistant.

The second PWI congress was held in Malang, East Java in 1947.
Usmar Ismail from the Patriot magazine, who later gained a
reputation as a noted film director, was chosen chairman. He was
assisted by Soedardjo Tjokrosisworo and Soemanang.

Soemanang was again made chairman in 1948 but retired four
months later on March 9, 1948.

The association was rife with arguments and differences of
opinion. But, as the years passed, the association made history,
albeit in a rough way.

Made up of dynamic and critical people, it isn't surprising
that the association has been hit by conflict.

Today, at the first congress to be held in Surakarta in 50
years, PWI will shine as a well-organized body. Members will once
again convene to develop journalism in Indonesia.