Surabaya mayor threatens reporters

Surabaya mayor threatens reporters

I am writing in reference to the report published in The
Jakarta Post, Sept. 28, 1995, concerning Surabaya Mayor Sunarto
Sumoprawiro's statement that reporters' houses would be moved to
make room for a regreening project if they wrote bad reports
about East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman.

It is improper for a mayor to make such a statement. I agree
with Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono's opinion concerning the
matter.

A journalist is entitled to be critical of what an official
has done wrong. The criticized official should accept the
criticism with an open heart, instead of using his power to
threaten or suppress the criticizer. The latter is quite contrary
to the values of the nation. It is necessary for people in power
to do away with the tendency to adopt a adigang adigung adiguna
attitude. Adigang is like a deer which relies on its capacity to
run fast, adigung is like an elephant which is proud of its large
body, and adiguna is like a serpent which proudly relies on its
poisonous fangs.

After 50 years of independence, we should open our hearts to
criticism and social control.

SUDASI

Tangerang