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.