Soeharto promises no arbitrary press bannings

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto assured the national press yesterday that the government would not revoke publishing licenses arbitrarily.

He said the press should act responsibly and place national interests above those of individuals or groups.

"Press freedom is not just for the sake of freedom, but something that must be exercised responsibly," Minister of Information R. Hartono quoted the President as saying.

"You should not regard the SIUPP (publishing licenses) as a ghost. If we cooperate and if we love our nation there will be no revocations of SIUPP," Hartono said after meeting Soeharto at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Hartono said the publishing licenses were still necessary. But he stressed the government's commitment that it would only revoke a license if a publications' actions were no longer tolerable and if it repeatedly ignored government warnings.

Hartono was installed as minister of information last week following a surprising cabinet reshuffle, replacing Harmoko.

Hartono will keep his cabinet post until next March, when the People's Consultative Assembly will convene to elect a president and vice president and outline the State Policy Outlines . The president will then form a cabinet.

Hartono handed over his Army chief of staff post to Gen. Wiranto last week.

Harmoko, who had been information minister since 1983, became the state minister of special assignments. He will hold this portfolio until he takes a seat in the House of Representatives in October.

Yesterday's meeting was the first between the President and Hartono as minister of information.

Hartono said the national press must remain vigilant for groups bent on creating situations which could destabilize the country.

"You must be vigilant, because consciously or unconsciously they can exploit the press as a weapon against the government," Hartono said.

He dismissed fears that, because he was an Army general, he would be tougher on the press than his predecessor.

"Although I am a former Army chief of staff, it is possible that I will be softer than non-military officials. The meaning of tough is relative... but we must be proportional," he said.

He said he wanted fellow government officials not to be hostile to the press, and treat journalists as partners.

Hartono promised to hold regular meetings with the press to synchronize government and press perceptions.

"Regular meetings between us are important because love will grow when you are closer to one another," Hartono said and smiled.

Hartono said the 1982 Press Law and the 1984 ministerial decree, which empowered the information minister to revoke SIUPP licenses, were still needed for the press' sake.

"When you study it comprehensively, you will find that the law is for your own good," he told journalists.

The decree has been controversial with many in the press saying that it contradicts the 1982 Press Law which guarantees press freedom.

The Ministry of Information revoked the licenses of three major news magazines in June 1984, Tempo, Editor, and DeTIK, for repeatedly ignoring the government's warnings on the way they reported news.

Two Jakarta-based newspapers, Sinar Harapan and Prioritas, were among the first victims of the 1984 decree. They were banned in 1986 and 1987 respectively.

Hartono hoped that the national press would not sensationalize social disparity because it would "worsen the situation", and told the press not to think of profit alone.

"Raising social disparity issues without good reason will create misperceptions among people," Hartono said. (06)