The axe has fallen

The axe has fallen

It was truly shocking to learn the other day about the
government's decision to ban the three leading weekly magazines
Tempo, Editor and the tabloid DeTIK.

It never crossed our mind that right in the middle of the
newly found climate of openness the government would go so far as
to ban these three publications.

Indeed, for many it was unthinkable that the deplorable and
ultimately deadly weapon, the canceling of press publishing
permits, would be used by the government to stop those "prying
and irritating" press reports. One would have thought that the
government would first take smaller steps, which would have
ensured a similar effect without having to kill the goose.

After all, we believe that to our accepted way of thinking we
are all members of one big family in which advisement and
persuasion are preferred whenever possible.

Apparently, in this case, the government has taken a different
view. As stated by Director General for Press and Graphics,
Subrata, the government was forced to take this extreme measure
because the publications had repeatedly ignored official warnings
about the manner in which they reported news or managed their
operations. Subrata also said that the steps taken are for the
sake of the development of a free, healthy and responsible press
and to maintain national stability.

One thing that makes it rather difficult for the press, of
course, is that no clear-cut guidelines have ever been outlined
on what constitutes acts that disrupt or endanger the nation's
stability. Surely, most people would agree that so far there have
been no indications that the nation has been destabilized or is
in any way in danger.

Nevertheless, there were plenty of indications of late that
the government was growing irritated with certain members of the
media. In the last several months scores of publications received
oral and written warnings from the authorities. A number of
officials, and some observers as well, had also urged the press
to be more circumspect lest the government close the gate of
openness.

The most obvious indication that something would happen was
when President Soeharto, in his speech in Teluk Ratai, Lampung,
on June 9 hinted that the government would take "firm action"
against certain publications he alleged had fanned the
controversy over the government's purchase of used East German
warships, which jeopardized national stability. By then, any keen
observer could conclude that certain members of the media would
get the axe.

And thus, regretfully it has fallen. It was indeed a very sad
experience to have to helplessly watch our colleagues being
punished and fall victim to certain debatable aspects of our
society, as we agree with the view that a legal course should
always be taken to settle disputes or violations of any kind.

Still, the incident provides some valuable lessons. The first
is the fact that we, particularly the press, are still -- to use
a popular phrase -- in a period of living dangerously. It would
be too naive to expect that the authorities would shrink from any
step they felt necessary to maintain their treasured national
stability.

Whatever the case, one should not believe that the closure of
the three magazines spells either the end of the world or the end
of openness. We believe what might happen is that the corridor of
openness will be slightly and temporarily narrowed and that the
media must wait for the gate to be reopened.

We agree with the view that what has happened will most
probably slow down the speed with which political openness has
been progressing. But in the end, we believe that democracy will
be recognized for what it is: an unstoppable phenomenon,
beneficial to all.