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Indonesia to retain right to ban newspapers and magazines

Source
Radio Australia - June 18, 1997

Indonesia's new Information Minister, General Hartono, says there will be no relaxation in a law which allows the government to ban newspapers and magazines.

Speaking after a meeting with President Suharto, the general said the law was needed in case there were publications which could NOT be tolerated.

General Hartono, until recently the head of the army, said the law should NOT be perceived by the Indonesian press as a threat.

He said that as long as the press behaved responsibly, in the interests of the nation, there would be no need to revoke publication licences.

Many newspapers and magazines deemed offensive by the Indonesian government have been banned in the past.

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