'Law hampers press freedom'<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Press Council vice chairman R.H. Siregar says loopholes in press
\nlaw No. 40\/1999 hamper freedom of the press in Indonesia by
\ntreating journalists as criminals.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a discussion on freedom of the press here on
\nThursday, Siregar said that Article 12 of the law stated that, in
\nsome cases, journalists and members of the media could be
\nprocessed according to the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
"It is better to fine or ban journalists who are suspected of
\nviolating the law from reporting, rather than imprisoning them."<\/p>\n
The recent case involving Tempo magazine and businessman Tommy
\nWinata has led Tempo's Bambang Harymurti and Ahmad Taufik to be
\ncharged under Article 310 of the Criminal Code on defamation and
\nArticle 311 on libel, which carry maximum punishments of nine
\nmonths and four years in prison, respectively.<\/p>\n
Police also stated earlier this month that both had violated
\nArticle 5(1) of the press law on the media's obligation to
\nrespect religious norms and public decency, as well as to adhere
\nto the principle of presumption of innocence. The article carries
\na maximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$56,179).<\/p>\n
Siregar questioned the term "presumption of innocence". "What
\ndoes it really mean? There is no explanation in the law to define
\nthat abstract term."<\/p>\n
He also said that besides the press law, the state, society
\nand journalists themselves could hamper press freedom.<\/p>\n
Journalist Cyrillus Kerong of Bisnis Indonesia daily presented
\na critique of the press during the seminar. "We should admit that
\njournalists sometimes disregard ethics in reporting. Because of
\ntight deadlines and a lack of concern, journalists often prepare
\nnews stories sloppily."<\/p>\n
Siregar underlined Kerong's statement, saying that negligence
\nby journalists could lead to libel indictments that might bring
\nthe press to the brink of bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
"I remember one daily newspaper was accused of libel and was
\nlooking at have to pay Rp 400 billion (about US$45 million). They
\nwould have been bankrupt if they had had to pay that amount."<\/p>\n
Attendants at the seminar also discussed concerns raised by
\nthe people that the national press was promoting anarchism and
\nthuggery with its unbalanced and negligent reporting.<\/p>\n
However, Taufik, who also addressed the seminar, said that in
\nTempo's case the people who attacked the magazine's office in
\nCentral Jakarta in early March were not true representatives of
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
"In my eyes, they were 'fabricated society'. They brought fire
\ntrucks with them, so I would have to conclude that the attack was
\nwell-prepared, not spontaneous," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/law-hampers-press-freedom-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}