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The Mochtar Lubis Awards

It’s not unusual a nation pays honour to great sons and daughters. So I can’t quite explain why these footprints in cement in Jakarta astonished me at the time. There they were: the small toes of Megawati. And the feet of other presidents, starting with those of the real hero, the father, the founder of the nation, Soekarno. The prints of his sturdy feet convinced me they could carry the weight of a major country. And because Bung Karno loved a show of entertainment, this Hollywood style of being immortalized fitted him perfectly well.

But I think there should be a hall of fame for Indonesian journalists as well. For those who carried the banner of the independent, daring, brave, “free floating intelligence” (a concept Karl Mannheim coined long ago in ’22, by the way). Actually Indonesian history shows a tradition of critical, investigative journalists. Some of them I know by their publications ( in translation) which are on my bookshelves. In that way they are friends. Pals who, in my opinion, deserve to be remembered – at least no less then some of the politicians.

It’s about time for Mochtar Lubis Awards. A prize for outstanding Indonesian journalists. Talented writers with independent, inquisitive minds.

Sometimes governments, officials and ideologists try to suffocate the freedom of expression. Or rather: suffocation is the rule and freedom the exception. As it was in colonial times. And during the “guided democracy” and the long lasting “new order”. the situation was hardly any better for journalists. But yet some did pull their weight anyhow. These people set the standards for a genuine newspaper (wo)man.

Pre Independence Times

As a matter of fact my first journalistic hero isn’t even a hardcore Indonesian. He was born Belanda and published in Dutch. But I consider him to be the shining example of the profession in the country at that time. Moreover during his life he gradually became a sincere son of the country of his choice.

Very long ago Bernard Shaw said he knew of three kinds of journalists: idealists, philistines and realists. Idealists tell what is good and beautiful, philistines tell about what they condone – which is whatever is good enough for themselves- and realists tell about the burdens and sorrows (or strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities) of the society they are living in. They are the debunking bellyachers. Willem Walraven (1887 – 1943) was one of those realists: critical, independent plus a superior style of writing with a touch of genius. He was, I guess, the first and probably only, good journalist in colonial times.

He choose to distance himself from the oppressive mainstream tempo doeloe society. He was a voice of dissent. In fact he usually lived as an outcast, together with his Indonesian wife Itih. But in this way he was able to keep his professional integrity. The ideal marginal man’s position for a journalist. But being a critic of an colonial regime is a guarantee for ( in this case: social and financial) trouble also. Anyhow, especially between ’30 and ’41 his articles in “De Indische Courant” made him stand out as a pro Indonesian and compassionate maverick, among his obedient, dull and even racist colleagues.

During Old & New Order

Hard times demand tough mental heroes. Persons like Mochtar Lubis ( 1922 – 2004), who’s life practically coincides with the history of the Republik Indonesia, was that kind of man. As a journalist he had to cope first with the guided democracy (‘57/58 – 65) of president Soekarno and later on with the New Order (‘65/’66 –’98) of president Soeharto. Not an ideal time and place for free floating intelligence.

In spite of the circumstances Mochtar Lubis made the grade in his profession. Still a really young man he, in 1949, he cofounded “Indonesia Raya” – the once renowned daily newspaper. He remained the champion of the free press from that moment on. He also proved himself as a crime fighter of a sort; armed with a typewriter (a PC later on) only when it came to corruption. His favourite subjects could easily bring him into conflict with authoritarian authorities of those days, however. And they did.

He revealed a case of “commission” the foreign minister, Roeslan Abdoelgani, received in 1955. He challenged president Soekarno in the early sixties by writing about an affair with a married woman. His bold articles resulted in the closing down of his newspaper and the imprisonment of the himself. After the coup d’état by Suharto he was set free and the paper reappeared – only to be closed down again in ’68. After more critical publications on Pertamina and people like the criminally reckless General Sutowo, who almost brought the oil company to bankruptcy, he was in trouble again. In February 1975 Mochtar Lubis got into jail for some months. It did not make him give in.

Mochtar Lubis qualifies for role model in the profession. So why not introduce the Mochtar Lubis Awards for the top notch of Indonesian journalism?

Who are Indonesia’s Journalistic Heroes now?

Formal democracy and freedom of expression are necessary conditions for journalism to flourish. These conditions are present now, so journalism should flourish.

Another promising novelty of our age, is the possibility of neo journalism. Journalists can opt for multimedia exposure. He or she can make himself or herself heard on the telly, in periodicals, by publishing books as well as on internet. So one would expect to find quite de few really influential, talented, recalcitrant, self-opinionated, tenacious, undaunted and independent minds.

Being a Bahasa Indonesia illiterate, I wonder: who are the living Indonesia’s Journalistic Heroes? Who is the modern Mochtar Lubis?

Indonesia’s weblogs are booming. But which one is up to the professional standards and qualifies for “free floating intelligence”?

The telly is in Indonesia all over the place. But which channel guarantees absolute freedom of speech? Actually there is quite a lot of infotainment. But which reporter or anchorman/woman can be considered a genuine journalistic hero?

The number of Indonesian newspapers and magazines is huge. Some place, somewhere a number of free floating intelligences must be at work. But it is hard to distinguish the gems in the mud.

The persons I’m looking for actually should perform in all these media. Because this is the make up of the neojournalist as the free floating intelligence of our days. He or she is a multimedia professional. And has all the qualifications of Mochtar Lubis as well. Men or women who can be an example for everyone who is active in the profession at present.

Tell me.