Department of Information (Indonesia)

The Department of Information (Indonesian: Departemen Penerangan, lit. 'Department of Enlightenment', abbreviated Deppen) was a department, and subsequently ministry, of the Indonesian government which was tasked with regulating and developing the press, mass media such as television, film, radio, graphics, printing and public information. The department was established in 1945 by President Sukarno.^[1] It later developed to become the propaganda wing of the New Order government.^[2]

Department of Information

Departemen Penerangan
Ministry overview
Formed	19 August 1945 (1945-08-19)
Dissolved	26 October 1999
Superseding agencies	State Ministry of Communication and Information (2001–2005) Department of Communication and Informatics (2005–2009) Ministry of Communication and Informatics (2009–2024) Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (2024–present)
Jurisdiction	Government of Indonesia
Headquarters	Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat No. 9 Jakarta Pusat 10110 Jakarta, Indonesia

History

Estabilishment and early history

The Department of Information was established at the beginning of Indonesian independence with the formation of the government. The first Minister of Information was Amir Sjarifuddin.

The Department of Information had a very broad scope of duties because in the early years of independence, many ministries were not well organized. For example, when members of the army wanted to enter areas of the country controlled by the Dutch, a travel certificate had to be issued by Department of Information.^[2]

New order era

During the New Order era, the Department of Information had a central role, namely controlling information and news, whch was almost entirely in the hands of the government. It acted as a public spokesperson for government programs. As well as political issues, the institution also had to monitor the television industry.

Control of information was almost entirely in the hands of the government, particularly the ministry of information. In 1984, Regulation No. 1/1984 of the Minister of Information was issued, requiring all press publishing companies to have a legal entity as a Limited Liability Company (PT) as a requirement to obtain a Press Publishing Business License (SIUPP).^[2]

Dissolution

During the administration of Abdurrahman Wahid in 1999, the Department of Information was disbanded. This dissolution was carried out because according to President Wahid, it was silencing the freedom of thought of the people. He argued that the Department of Information acted in an authoritarian manner in managing the Indonesian media landscape.^[3][4]

Ministers

The following is a list of ministers of information from 1945 to 1999:

1. Amir Sjarifuddin (1945–1946)
2. Mohammad Natsir (1946–1947, 1948)
3. Setiadi Reksoprodjo (1947)
4. Sjahbuddin Latif (1947–1948)
   Syafruddin Prawiranegara (1948–1949)
5. Raden Sjamsoeddin (1949)
   Arnold Mononutu (1949–1950)
   Raden Sjamsoeddin (1949–1950)
6. Wiwoho Purbohadidjojo (1950)
7. Melkias Agustinus Pellaupessy (1950–1951)
8. Arnold Mononutu (1951–1953)
9. Ferdinand Lumban Tobing (1953–1955)
10. Sjamsuddin Sutan Makmur (1955–1956)
11. Soedibjo (1956–1957, 1957–1959)
    Idham Chalid (1957, acting)
12. Maladi (1960–1962)
13. Mohammad Yamin (1962)
14. Ruslan Abdulgani (1962–1964)
15. Achmadi Hadisoemarto (1964–1966)
16. Wilhelm Johannis Rumambi (1966)
17. B.M. Diah (1966–1968)
18. Boediardjo (1968–1973)
19. Mashuri Saleh (1973–1977)
    Sudharmono (1977–1978, acting)
20. Ali Murtopo (1978–1983)
21. Harmoko (1983–1997)
22. R. Hartono (1997–1998)
23. Alwi Dahlan (1998)
24. Yunus Yosfiah (1998–1999)

Replacement

Main article: Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs

After the dissolution of the department by President Abdurrahman Wahid, the National Information and Communication Agency (BIKN) was formed, a non-ministerial government agency to replace the function of the information department.^[5]

The functions of this department were then transferred to a new ministry, namely the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which was formed by President Megawati Sukarnoputri in 2001. It is now known as the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.