'Tempo', 'DeTik' set to restart publication
JAKARTA (JP): Journalists from the banned newsweeklies Tempo and DeTik have seized on rejuvenated freedoms of expression by announcing their intention of reestablishing the publications despite financial constraints.
DeTik, published in tabloid format, may be back on newsstands within two weeks. Tempo magazine is expected to republish in a revised format in six months.
Former general manager of DeTik Eros Djarot said the tabloid was set to be back in business within a fortnight even without a publication license.
"We had planned to (hit the streets) on Wednesday (June 3) but there are still legal matters to take care of," Eros told The Jakarta Post Saturday.
Republishing without a license, Eros said, "is a witness to our consistent stand to advocate the freedom of the press, that no power can tear us (DeTik) apart".
Eros said he hoped the plans could be realized around June 10.
Goenawan Mohamad, the former chief editor of Tempo, conceded it would not be easy to start up the magazine again in the economic crisis.
Goenawan, who was accompanied by secretary of Tempo's Alumni Foundation Putu Setia, the magazine's deputy chief editor Fikri Jufri and Zulkifli Lubis, said a special team had been established for handling the logistics of restarting publication.
He said a group of friends had stated its willingness to finance the reestablishment of the magazine, which he pledged would be different from the host of newsweeklies on the market.
"Why republish the magazine if we do not offer anything new?" Goenawan said.
Fikri said this was an important consideration as several newsmagazines, taking up Tempo's logo and newswriting style, appeared shortly after its permit was revoked.
He said the new edition of the magazine must woo readers with fresh draws.
Freedom
Goenawan, Fikri and Putu agreed in a meeting at the Tempo Cafe in East Jakarta yesterday that freedom of the media was imperative.
"Whether Tempo will be republished or not is unimportant, the important thing is that the government must now guarantee freedom of the press," Goenawan said. He urged the government to abolish a ministerial decree allowing revocation of publication permits.
Tempo was closed down in June 1994, together with Editor and DeTik. Tempo was faulted for its critical report of the government's purchase of used ships from Germany, while the banning of the two other publications was attributed to "administrative violations".
DeTik was owned by PT Detik Bangun Media Prestasi under the Yayasan Mulya foundation. In 1996, the now defunct Target tabloid, with a strikingly similar layout, was published and touted by many as DeTik's replacement after gaining a new license under a new company.
Eros at the time denied that Target -- with majority shares owned by Agung Laksono, the director of the private AN-Teve television station and an executive of the ruling Golkar grouping -- was a substitute for DeTik. Agung is now state minister of youth affairs and sports. (byg/anr)