Press urged to support judicial objectivity<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said yesterday
\nthat \"trial by the press\" should be avoided because it could
\nendanger judicial independence.<\/p>\n
\"The press should refrain from carrying news stories on crime
\nin such a way as to disrespect the principle of the presumption
\nof innocence, because this could influence the objectivity of the
\ncourt,\" Oetojo told reporters after a meeting with the House of
\nRepresentatives Legal Commission.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand, a judge, in reading the stories carried by
\nthe media, should be aware that he is being tested on his
\nindependence and responsibility to God Almighty,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Oetojo said that, with a lack of respect for the principle of
\nthe presumption of innocence, the news media -- both printed and
\nelectronic -- have a tendency to mix news and opinion.<\/p>\n
\"This can provoke people's anger through the creation of
\nnegative public opinion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Oetojo said he regretted the fact that public wrath, caused by
\nthe way the media has printed or broadcast reports on criminal
\ncases, had led to riots recently.<\/p>\n
\"The press has a big role to play in the efforts to build a
\npositive attitude towards criminal cases -- by trying not to make
\ntheir own judgments until the court has ruled on the case in
\nhand,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sjamsul Basrie, chief of the Honorary Council of the
\nIndonesian Journalist Association, told The Jakarta Post
\nyesterday that he had sent many warning letters to media
\norganizations asking them to be more careful in printing or
\nbroadcasting crime stories so as to avoid rousing public anger.<\/p>\n
Citing examples, Sjamsul said that the media had printed and
\nbroadcast too-detailed reports on the recent gang rape and
\nrobbery of a village family in Bekasi, 30 kilometers south-east
\nof here, and the brutal murder of a mother and three of her
\nchildren in East Jakarta. For example, the reports had mentioned
\nthe ethnicity and creed of the prime murder suspect in the latter
\ncase, he said.<\/p>\n
This had stirred up public outrage, resulting in the attack on
\nthe lawyers representing the suspects, said Sjamsul, who is also
\nchief editor of Suara Karya daily.<\/p>\n
Conscience<\/p>\n
He said that there are no legal sanctions against trial by the
\npress, but added that \"as civilized people, editors should
\nconsult their conscience.\"<\/p>\n
\"We have common sense in the journalists' code of ethics,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party,
\nV.B. da Costa, said that to strictly curb the tendency to violate
\nthe principle of the presumption of innocence on the part of news
\nmedia, Indonesia is in dire need of regulations on adherence to
\nthe principle.<\/p>\n
He said that the way in which the media have reported on the
\ntwo recent cases has not only tarnished the good name of the
\nsuspects but also those of their families.<\/p>\n
Rustandi, a legislator from the Armed Forces faction in the
\nHouse of Representatives, told the Post that the press' printing
\nof good stories should not be done at the cost of sacrificing
\npeople's basic rights.<\/p>\n
A public relations officer of ANteve television told the Post
\nby telephone yesterday that the private TV network has a policy
\nof broadcasting every event as both information and entertainment
\nin order to make it interesting for viewers.<\/p>\n
The officer, Soraya Perucha, said that she did not mind
\nbroadcasting details of a criminal case because \"that's the way
\nit happens.\"<\/p>\n
\"And so far the TV station has never been criticized by the
\npublic or reprimanded by the authorities,\" she added. (03)<\/p>",
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