'RI press freedom under threat'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In marking World Press Freedom Day on Monday, a press
\norganization noted that the press here is still regarded as "the
\nenemy". Also, it noted that under martial law in Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was just as bad as the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) and police as regards intimidating the
\nmedia.<\/p>\n
Citing at least 41 cases of intimidation against the press
\nacross the country over the past year, the Alliance of
\nIndependent Journalists (AJI) said that press freedom had been
\nthreatened by the state, separatist groups, acts of "hoodlumism"
\nas well as lawsuits from powerful people.<\/p>\n
Under martial law, which was declared on May 19 last year, the
\nsecurity forces and GAM were involved in 13 cases of pressure,
\nincluding killings of journalists, the AJI record showed.<\/p>\n
All 41 cases "show how the state, the public, and other groups
\nin society consider the press as an enemy, instead of as a
\npartner," AJI chairman Eddy Suprapto said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The AJI particularly noted the deaths of Mohammad Jamaluddin
\n(a TVRI television cameraman in Banda Aceh) and Sori Ersa Siregar
\n(a reporter from RCTI television), and the failure to release
\nErsa's colleague, cameraman Fery Santoro, from the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) which is currently holding him. These cases "have
\ntorn apart Indonesia's press freedom" Eddy said, while urging
\nFery's immediate release.<\/p>\n
Fery has spent almost 10 months with GAM since the journalists
\nwere abducted with their driver and two air force officers' wives
\non June 29 last year. The government and GAM failed to agree on
\nterms for the release of Fery and dozens of other civilian
\ncaptives despite the help of the Red Cross at both the local and
\ninternational levels. The driver escaped when the military wives
\nwere being released earlier.<\/p>\n
The AJI called on all groups to understand and to respect the
\nwork of journalists and to afford them protection while working
\nin conflict areas. The media still faces restrictions in covering
\nAceh and have been more cautious in sending out journalists since
\nthe abduction of Ersa and Fery.<\/p>\n
In addition, the AJI urged media companies, journalists, and
\npress organizations to improve their professionalism, otherwise
\npress freedom would not materialize.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) chairman
\nVictor Menayang reminded the public that press freedom was in the
\ninterests of all.<\/p>\n
"The struggle for press freedom is not only the struggle of
\nmedia people, but the struggle of the entire people," he told The
\nJakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
He added that various laws and regulations, including the
\nConstitution and the Press Law, needed to be revised to give more
\nprotection to the press.<\/p>\n
While saying that legal action was preferable in the event of
\nprotests against coverage rather than harassment and violence,
\nAJI noted that the public appeared to have little interest in
\nout-of-court settlements as provided for by the 1999 press law.<\/p>\n
Intimidation of the press, May 3, 2003 - May 3, 2004<\/p>\n
Perpetrators Physical violence Non-physical Number<\/p>\n
Military 1 1 2<\/p>\n
Police 7 2 9<\/p>\n
Demonstrators 9 7 16<\/p>\n
Govt officials 4 1 5<\/p>\n
Unknown 1 2 3<\/p>\n
Legislators - - -<\/p>\n
Political parties 4 2 6<\/p>\n
Source: AJI<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-press-freedom-under-threat-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }