The Indonesian press dilemma

The Indonesian press dilemma

The existence of a fair climate and a tolerant society does
not necessarily assure that the press can grow strong. It is
quite possible for a democratic country, whose constitution
guarantees citizens their rights of opinion and expression, to
have a press that is mute and frail.

In any country which adopts the democratic system, access to
information is every citizen's right. The well-being of the
country and the nation is often dependent on the accuracy of the
information supplied. Deviations from the constitution,
deviations in matters of morality, are in the advances countries
often resisted by the presence of an staunch press.

The press is one of the mechanisms that displays the red light
whenever society is in threatened by danger, whether it comes
from inside the country or outside. The press is duty bound to
sound the alert whenever a social ill is beginning to undermine
the nation's resilience.

It is not surprising to hear an expert from Murdoch University
in Perth, Australia, David T. Hill, say that in his observation
the Indonesian press is caught in between two different
interests: that of the government on the one side and that of the
newspaper owners on the other.

Hill also sees a difference between Tempo magazine, whose
publishing license was revoked, and Gatra, whose shares are owned
by Indonesian timber taipan Bob Hasan. He also notes the
difference between Tiras, whose shares are owned by the Minister
of Manpower Abdul Latief through A. Latief Corporation, and
Editor whose publishing license was revoked.

If it is true that the Indonesian press is caught in between
two different interests -- that of the government, which in this
case means the bureaucratic system, on the one side and vested
interests on the other -- then the press will continue to live in
a climate of fear to criticize and help to perpetuate the climate
of fear in this country.

-- Merdeka, Jakarta