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Hill also sees a difference between Tempo magazine, whose publishing license was revoked, and Gatra, whose shares are owned by Indonesian timber taipan Bob Hasan.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are owned by the Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief through A. Latief Corporation, and Editor whose publishing license was revoked.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