With regard to your article Government and the House in favor of media restriction in The Jakarta Post of May 29, I must say that as an editor and journalist that the domestic press have only themselves to blame for any contemplated revisions of the press law.

Ignorance (a gross understatement) and dysfunction in the domestic press is at the root of the government response, and it is to be expected. I think that government has shown admirable restraint in dealing with individuals and publications that churn out an outlandish assortment of half-truths, innuendo and outright lies while hiding behind the banner of freedom of the press.

They also have to realize that they have a responsibility to publish the unvarnished truth according to our code of ethics. Unfortunately, when ethics are brought up the response from the vast majority of domestic journalists is a blank stare. They simply don't know or care that their irresponsible actions endanger the entire press corps. This situation has to be addressed from within -- and quickly, or the government will do it for us.

I am not one to criticize without offering solutions, and very basic solutions at that. They are: * Root out corruption in our ranks, journalists who receive bribes at "envelope" press conferences must be terminated -- immediately and with prejudice, as there can be no credibility within our ranks until this nefarious practice is exterminated, root and branch. * Publishers and editors must hold their reporters accountable for their sloppy work, and those who cannot be rehabilitated must be terminated. * Publishers and editors must make available to their reporters instruction in the tenets of journalism, and make this instruction compulsory for those that violate the code, terminating repeat offenders. * The next generation of journalists must be taught in college by journalists. There is simply no viable substitute. * The aggressive peer review must be standardized within the domestic press. Those that violate the code must be identified and ostracized, effectively banned from the profession. It happens across America every day, and to be frank I fear the condemnation of my colleagues more than any publisher or editor.

ROBERT S. FINNEGAN

English Editor

CAKRAM Magazine

Jakarta