`Authorities jeopardize freedom of expression'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hope for freedom of expression for Indonesians after the fall of
\nformer dictator Soeharto has been jeopardized by authorities who
\ncontinue sending their critics to jail, a human rights group
\nsays.<\/p>\n
The New York-based Human Rights Watch, which
\ndedicates itself to protecting the rights of people around the
\nworld, also said in its report on Wednesday that Indonesia's
\ncourts had failed to protect the basic rights of its citizens and
\nwere not immune to political interference.<\/p>\n
Examining various cases that took place following the downfall
\nof Soeharto's regime in 1998, the Human Rights Watch called for
\nthe release of people detained for expressing their non-violent
\npolitical views at peaceful protests.<\/p>\n
Some students in Solo, East Java, had been jailed for
\ntrampling on President Megawati Soekarnoputri's pictures during
\nantigovernment protests; while in Jakarta, several student
\nactivists are being tried for holding peaceful antigovernment
\nprotests without informing police authorities as required by law.<\/p>\n
The organization urged the government and lawmakers to repeal
\nArticles 134, 136 and 137 of the country's Criminal Code that
\ncriminalize insulting the president or vice president and \"anyone
\nwho disseminates, demonstrates openly or puts up a writing or
\nportrait containing an insult against the president or vice
\npresident\".<\/p>\n
It also called on the government to repeal Articles 154, 155
\nand 157 of the Criminal Code, which criminalize \"public
\nexpression of feelings of hostility, hatred, or contempt toward
\nthe government\", and prohibiting the expression of such feelings
\nor views through the public media.<\/p>\n
\"The articles also violate the spirit of Indonesia's
\nConstitution, which grants the freedom of expression,\" the
\norganization said, referring to Article 28 of the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
In its 23-page report, the Human Rights Watch highlighted
\nseveral cases implicating students, common people and news
\nseekers who opposed the government's decisions which, in their
\nopinion, were unpopular.<\/p>\n
The rights watchdog conducted research from July 2002 through
\nFebruary 2003 when numerous arrests of political activists took
\nplace in Jakarta, including the case of Nanang, a 20-year-old
\nstreet vendor, and Muzakkir, a 21-year-old street musician, who
\nappear to have been the first to be convicted for insulting
\nPresident Megawati.<\/p>\n
It further said that restriction of freedom of expression in
\nIndonesia was also faced by the press. Last February, two editors
\nof the Rakyat Merdeka daily were summoned by police over a story
\nwhich allegedly insulted the president.<\/p>\n
The systematic arrests of demonstrators appear to have been
\nprompted by a statement President Megawati made on July 8, 2002,
\nwhen she publicly condemned those who voiced opposition to the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Megawati was reported as saying that symbols of the country
\nhad to be respected and that if she met demonstrators who did not
\nrespect those symbols, she would ask them to chose another
\nnationality.<\/p>\n
\"After these statements were made, arrests of demonstrators
\ninsulting President Megawati increased significantly,\" the report
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/authorities-jeopardize-freedom-of-expression-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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