Public still grappling with free press<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While well-established media have generally
\npracticed restraint in using press freedom, the public often
\nshows it is not ready for the relatively new openness, media
\nobservers and journalists said.<\/p>\n
And with the government no longer formally supervising the
\npress, media bodies, in their infancy, are striving to take over
\nthe government's role in protecting readers' interests.<\/p>\n
Sirikit Syah, director of Surabaya-based media watchdog
\nConsumer Press Institute, said, \"Press freedom has good prospects
\nhere, but it is not happening in synchrony with the public's
\npreparedness.\"<\/p>\n
Citing a number of incidents since the end of the New Order
\nregime, she said, \"If a person feels victimized by media
\ncoverage, he or she tends to use anarchy to solve the problem
\ninstead of using the right of reply.\"<\/p>\n
Sirikit said her organization periodically discussed the issue
\nof press freedom on a radio program.<\/p>\n
\"Audience participation is high. They respond by calling in to
\nthe show to give their comments or complaints,\" Sirikit said,
\nadding that among the most common complaints were \"pornographic\"
\ntabloids, misleading headlines and libel.<\/p>\n
While the press is now free, \"people are also free to protest
\nagainst the media\", Didik Supriyanto, secretary-general of the
\nAlliance of Independent Journalists, said.<\/p>\n
Of 42 cases of harassment and violence against journalists
\nbetween Jan. 1 and April 30 of this year, 20 cases involved
\nmembers of the public, he said.<\/p>\n
Sirikit and Didik were speaking on Tuesday and Wednesday in
\nconjunction with World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Budyatna, who lectures at the School of Social and
\nPolitical Studies at the University of Indonesia, told The
\nJakarta Post the public often took matters into its own hands
\nbecause of weak law enforcement leading to distrust of the
\njudicial system, the \"trial and error\" of new media watchdogs and
\nscant attention given to the right of reply.<\/p>\n
\"Even I would be hesitant to write (to the media) because it
\nwouldn't respond,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In a talk show broadcast on Tuesday by Radio 68H and
\nfeaturing several guests, the leader of the Islamic Defenders
\nFront, Al Habib Muhammad Rizieq Syihab, said demonstrations at
\npress offices involving thousands of followers were more
\neffective \"than a few lines in the corner of a newspaper\".<\/p>\n
Atmakusumah Astraatmadja, executive director of the Dr.
\nSoetomo Press Institute, said rather than taking cases to courts,
\na quicker way to settle disputes with the media was through the
\nNational Press Council. He said the council was expected to be
\nindependent and effective in exerting \"moral punishment\" even
\nthough it was established by the government.<\/p>\n
However, Budyatna said, \"It's impossible to tell the media not
\nto do this or that through moral pressure only. In this country,
\neven law enforcement is often ignored.\"<\/p>\n
He also expressed concern the mushrooming media watchdogs \"was
\njust a trend\".<\/p>\n
Haris Jauhari from the Association of Indonesian Television
\nJournalists said media watchdogs had yet to play a role given
\ntheir lack of competency in media law and ethics.<\/p>\n
\"Some media watchdogs are even affiliated with political
\nparties, and have been used excessively to watch the media which
\nhave been critical of the parties,\" Haris said.<\/p>\n
Didik said he suggested a televised mediawatch program to
\ninform the public about its rights in relation to the media, \"but
\nno television station has shown any interest\".<\/p>\n
Despite much criticism of the press, Sirikit said a free press
\nshould be maintained because it was a blessing.<\/p>\n
\"We have been telling people not to hate press freedom, and
\nnot to urge the government to constrain the press. We are also
\neducating people to be more selective and critical\" in absorbing
\nmedia content, she said.<\/p>\n
Atmakusumah said because of press freedom, many things hidden
\nfrom the public in the past could now be revealed. He cited, as
\nan example, the atrocities in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"These days reporting can be far more blunt,\" the former
\njournalist at the banned Indonesia Raya said.<\/p>\n
Masdar F. Mas'udi of the new National Ombudsman Commission,
\nwhich watches over law enforcement, said press freedom was
\neveryone's responsibility.<\/p>\n
\"Press freedom is too precious to be gotten rid of despite its
\nshortcomings,\" he said.(08)<\/p>",
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