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.