Strong campaign defends Indonesian media

By Max Lane

Giving evidence to a parliamentary committee in Jakarta on June 29, information minister Harmoko showed the first signs of a possible weakening in the regime's resolve over the banning of the magazines Detik, Tempo and Editor. He said that the government would not rescind its withdrawal of the publishing permits, but it might issue a permit to the journalists and employees for new publications.

Wide opposition to the bannings has kept the regime on the defensive. Journalists, students and pro-democracy groups have raised the issue across the country.

Several activists were injured in the largest of the protests in Jakarta, when the police violently dispersed a rally outside the minister of information's office. Amomng the injured was well known artist and political activist Semsar Siahaan, whose leg was broken by the police.

Those arrested at that rally, including the poet Rendra, were held overnight and fined for illegal assembly.

At the forefront of the campaign have been activists from the Legal Aid Institute, Students Solidarity for Democracy in Indonesia (SSDI), the Peoples' Democratic Union, the Rendra Thatre Workshop, Pijar Foundation and others. Mainstream personalities, including members of parliament from the two semi-government parties, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party, have also called for the bannings to be revoked.

Even the military continues to distance itself from the bannings, Defence Minister General Sudrajat making enigmatic statements about some elements of society being unable to change with the times.

Adnan Buyung Nasution, director of the Legal Aid Institute, is reportedly in hiding because a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

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