Free press a must in a democratic society<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The reform movement has brought unprecedented
\nfreedom to the nation's press.<\/p>\n
In a demonstration of its commitment to the spirit of reform,
\nthe government revoked a 1984 ruling which gave it the right to
\nrevoke press publication licenses shortly after it came to power.
\nDespite this, few believe that the present government will move
\nswiftly to introduce further reforms in the information sector.<\/p>\n
However, there are hopes that the government will allow the
\npress to play a much more constructive and professional role in
\nthe country's everyday life, and work free from the specter of
\nstate interference.<\/p>\n
We asked a number of people, including experts and those
\nactive in the media, what they thought of Indonesia's newfound
\npress freedom.<\/p>\n
Chatib Basri, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's
\nSchool of Economics:<\/p>\n
I welcome the new press freedom. It's a bit like in 1967 and
\n1968, when people could say anything they wanted, although there
\nare still some constraints.<\/p>\n
For example, newspapers have had lawsuits brought against
\nthem. People have the right to answer back to articles published
\nin newspapers.<\/p>\n
I don't think it is necessary to have publishing permits
\n(SIUPP) any longer. There is no need for us to limit the number
\nof publications on the market.<\/p>\n
It would be better to let public judge the quality of
\nnewspapers. People will not buy poor quality publications.<\/p>\n
Journalism here is far from ideal. Only a few publications are
\naccustomed to verifying their reports and this must change.<\/p>\n
If there are complaints, publishers should act on them and not
\njust remain aloof.<\/p>\n
Daddy Heryono Gunawan, chief editor of the new political and
\neconomic tabloid Indikator:<\/p>\n
Thanks to the reform movement, the government has loosened
\ncontrols on the press. This should allow publications here to
\ncompete on equal terms.<\/p>\n
I agree that readers will choose their own publications, so
\nthere is no need to limit the number of magazines and journals
\navailable to the general public.<\/p>\n
It took us less than one month to get our publishing permit,
\nsomething that would never have happened in the past.<\/p>\n
I hope that this press freedom will last forever and I hope
\nthat journalists will not abuse it.<\/p>\n
Atmakusumah Astraatmadja, director of the Dr. Soetomo Press
\nInstitute in Jakarta:<\/p>\n
The press have struggled against political and economic
\nrepression since the time of the Dutch colonial rule and they
\nwill carry on with this struggle even after Indonesia becomes a
\ndemocratic country.<\/p>\n
In modern, democratic countries, press freedom is
\noccasionally impinged upon, but the public's right to information
\nis guarantied by law.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, people who have disagreed with certain news
\nreports have staged demonstrations. That too is an impingement on
\npress freedom, and as such is a form of repression.<\/p>\n
There is no need to attempt to restrict the number of
\npublications in the country. Let the readers judge what is good
\nand bad for themselves.<\/p>\n
The press will need to listen to people's opinions if they
\nwant readers.<\/p>\n
It is better to allow a free press to keep the public properly
\ninformed rather than to return to relying upon the rumor mill
\nwhich existed under a strictly controlled press.<\/p>\n
Self-censorship should be practiced by journalists using their
\nexperience and wisdom rather than by suppression.<\/p>\n
Press organizations, of which there are currently about a
\ndozen, need to establish a confederation to maintain their
\nsolidarity.<\/p>\n
M. Budyatna, a mass communications expert from the University
\nof Indonesia:<\/p>\n
The Indonesian press has to learn the art of advocacy.<\/p>\n
The government deserves support from the press if it protects
\nthe individuals' rights, but equally, the press must criticize
\nthe government if it fails in this duty.<\/p>\n
Many publications did not report the recent attack on a church
\nin Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, because they were afraid.<\/p>\n
The press should remain alert at all times and provide
\nobjective and balanced reports on newsworthy events.<\/p>\n
The press does not need to practice self-censorship when
\ndealing with racial, ethnic or religious issues, as long as it
\nmaintains an objective stance and avoids one-sided coverage.<\/p>\n
Haris Jauhari, chairman of the Indonesian Television
\nJournalists Association: At present, Indonesian press is still
\nlearning how to fully utilize the freedom of the press. And the
\nreaders are also in the process of learning how to accept and to
\nreact to the press freedom.<\/p>\n
During the process, some people who disagree with certain news
\nreports raise their critics and the press do not ignore those
\ncritics. Instead, they introspect. So at the moment, both the
\npress and the community are having somekind of a dialog.<\/p>\n
We can't say whether the press freedom is right or wrong, or
\nwhether it has negative impact before the dialog gets to a point,
\nwhere both the press and the readers will reach an unwritten
\nagreement of their own. And I think it will take between one to
\ntwo years until both the press and the readers reach such an
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
So, in my opinion, there is nothing to worry about the press
\nfreedom at the moment. It is still normal and there's nothing to
\nfear of. There might be several media which forget the ethical
\ncode. But the readers will decide. It is the readers who will
\nmake the choice.<\/p>\n
Rev. Samuel Purwadisastra, the head of the Synod of Indonesian
\nChristian Churches:<\/p>\n
I agree that the press should print news about the reality of
\nreligious disharmony, yet the press should be sensitive to the
\npeople's comprehension and level of education.<\/p>\n
I think it is good that the disharmony is printed in the open,
\nbut not through vulgar exposure. Even though we are not sure
\nwhether the recent unrest was a spontaneous consequence of the
\nrepression of the New Order era, we realize that in the past
\nreligious issues were used to compartmentalize society.<\/p>\n
In the past, we glorified unity through slogans, while
\nforgetting that at the grassroots level religious harmony is
\nreally frail.<\/p>\n
We have to remember that religious harmony could not occur
\nmerely through lip service but through a well-laid out program.
\nThe accord should not only be limited to the leaders but also
\nextended to the grass roots.<\/p>\n
So, although printing such news is beneficial to expose
\ndifferent existing perspectives, we have to realize the grass
\nroots' reading nature, and their level of comprehension.<\/p>\n
Sadistic and bombastic headlines undoubtedly attract them.
\nWith a limited education, these people will have trouble sorting
\nout news.<\/p>\n
With such a vulgar approach, the news will only agitate them.
\n(jun\/kod\/ste\/46)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/free-press-a-must-in-a-democratic-society-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}