Ethics must guide freedom of the press, minister says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While freedom of the press is necessary in a
\ndemocracy, in Indonesia the press must still be guided by ethics
\nand subject to some form of social control, Minister of Law and
\nLegislation Yusril Izha Mahendra said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's new press law, enacted in September, has given the
\nindustry virtually unlimited freedom, Yusril said. This should be
\nfollowed by tightening social control mechanisms, he added.<\/p>\n
He did not elaborate on the mechanisms envisaged, but said the
\npress in Indonesia should observe ethical norms as it enjoyed its
\nnewfound freedom.<\/p>\n
Yusril, a constitutional law expert, was speaking at a seminar
\non the role and responsibilities of the media. The event was
\njointly organized by the American Studies Association, the
\nUniversity of Indonesia and the United States Embassy.<\/p>\n
Yusril said the press played such a crucial role in bringing
\nabout changes in society that it was difficult to envisage
\ndemocracy developing without the presence of a free press.<\/p>\n
\"However the press should consider how far it uses its
\nfreedom. It must develop a code of ethics to guide its conduct,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The new press law abolished the draconian licensing system
\nwhich had been used by previous governments to control the press.
\nWhile there was no official censorship, the government revoked,
\nor threatened to revoke, licenses of publications critical of it.<\/p>\n
Under the new law, a press publication needs only to register
\nwith the authorities. It also guarantees the independence of the
\npress.<\/p>\n
One of the first policies introduced by President Abdurrahman
\nWahid after his Oct. 20 election was to abolish the information
\nministry through which past presidents had controlled the media.<\/p>\n
Yusril questioned whether the media in Indonesia were ready to
\nhandle the consequences of their new found freedom, especially in
\nthe absence of any effective mechanisms to check their behavior.<\/p>\n
\"The law has distinctive punishments. Ethical codes do not
\nprovide punishments for violators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Without ethics, the press could turn news into propaganda, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sasa Djuarsa Sendjaja, a mass communications expert at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, said society was still learning about
\nthe consequences of giving unlimited freedom to the press.<\/p>\n
To ensure fairness in their reporting, the press must strive
\nto strengthen the skills of their reporters and also encourage
\nthe establishment of media watchdogs, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The public should be informed of their right to control the
\nbehavior of the press. They should be able to sue media which run
\nuntrue and damaging reports,\" Sasa said. (04)<\/p>",
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