Press Freedom

As stated above, the mass media in Indonesia have been allowed more freedom but some limitations remain. The government, for example, has the authority to ban any mass media if its news or analysis has, according to the government, undermined the credibility of the government or threaten the stability and security of the country. Since 1970, some media have been closed down; the last occurred in magazines (Tempo and Editor) and one tabloid (Detik). Such power is reinforced by the fact that the Indonesian presses have to seek permission from the government for any publication. Additionally, the government has to approve the composition of the editorial board before letters of permission are issued.

The government’s closure of the three publications mentioned above met with protests from students. Yet, the protests lasted only a week and people quickly forgot about the issue. The editors of the publications were left with the view that they had to exercise self-censorship. Such self-censorship is also occasioned by a stipulation in the press laws that “the national press has [both] the freedom as well as responsibility”. The final say on press freedom and its responsibility lies, of course, with the government.

Another factor behind the ban of the three publications was an intra-elite conflict involving three parties: the Muslims, the Nationalist, and the Catholics. The three publications were closed down after they continually wrote about Indonesia’s acquisition of warships from Germany which, according to them was too expensive. The three publications also reported that the key figure behind the acquisition was Minister for Research and Technology, B.J. Habibie, a minister who is strongly affiliated to the Muslim group through position as Chairman of ICMI (Ikatan Cendekiawan Muslim Indonesia or Association of Muslim Intellectuals).

Reports on the warships were considered conspiratorial, aimed at undermining the reputation and political influence of Habibie as well as the Muslim groups by the mass media sponsored by the nationalist. Although the chief editors of Tempo (Gunawan Muhammad and Fikri Jufri) were not connected to the nationalist groups, they were categorized (by their opponents) as nominal Muslims. Some members of the editorial board of the magazine, however, were considered nationalists and they were believed to have written the articles about Habibie. The Chief Editor of Detik tabloid was also considered by his opponents as a nationalist. Criticisms of Habibie were also made by the mass media owned by Christian, and specifically Catholic groups.

Prior to the closing down of these publications, President Soeharto on his visit to Lampung (in south Sumatra) had explained that all accusations made by the media about Habibie were wrong because the decision to buy the warships was made b him and that Habibie did not know about it. The President claimed that he had given Habibie instructions to contact the German Government for the purchase of the ships. The President had heard about the possibility of buying the ships from a leading businessman close to him. In the speech in Lampung, the President indirectly asked the authorities to enforce sanctions on the media which were engaging in insinuations and spreading false information. The case of Tempo shows that the government still has much power over the press.

(Continued on title : "The Parliament")