PWI, SPS oppose new press rulings

PWI, SPS oppose new press rulings

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI)
and the Association of Indonesian Publishers (SPS) have joined
forces in calling on the government to annul a newly issued
decree allowing it to freeze errant media's publishing licenses
for an unspecified period of time.

The organizations claim the ruling -- replacing the
controversial ministerial decree which effectively sanctioned
press bans as it allowed former president Soeharto's regime to
revoke publishing licenses -- is open to numerous interpretations
and in many ways similar to the previous decree.

In a statement yesterday the two organizations said Article 23
of the new Minister of Information Decree No. 1/1998 should be
annulled.

Critics say the vague formulation allows the government to
issue suspensions for indefinite periods.

Meanwhile, ParOn tabloid and the Bandung Pos daily separately
announced yesterday they would cease publication as of today.

Bandung Pos blamed the monetary crisis, skyrocketing
production costs and the fact that 90 percent of subscribers, who
are government offices, defaulted on their subscriptions.

ParOn managing editor Agus Basri said in a statement that the
decision to close was made in an editorial staff meeting after
its investor Mohamad "Bob" Hasan decided to pull out.

ParOn's last edition bore the front cover headline Tanah
Keluarga Cendana Seluas Jakarta (Cendana Family's Land is as
Large as Jakarta), referring to alleged business holdings of the
Soeharto clan. (rms/43)