RI's frail press freedom<\/p>\n
Bimo Nugroho
\nDirector
\nInstitute for Studies on the
\nFree Flow of Information (ISAI)
\nJakarta
\nbimo@isai.or.id<\/p>\n
There is much hope that the current press freedom will
\nencourage Indonesia to achieve its aim in becoming a solid civil
\nsociety. But does this current freedom also liberate the media
\ncommunity?<\/p>\n
A Muslim group called the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI)
\nrecently succeeded in persuading private television stations RCTI
\nand SCTV to stop airing a public service announcement about
\nplurality in Islam in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The MMI expressed strong concern that the announcement went
\nagainst religious teachings, and that it was Muslims, and not
\nIslam, that were plural.<\/p>\n
More recently, the electronic media community is facing the
\nthreat of a ban against broadcasting foreign programs, including
\nnews, which is the result of a broadcasting bill drawn up by
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
All signs of efforts to curb the press need to be watched to
\navoid a repeat in history of the wounds inflicted on press
\nfreedom. Anyone certainly enjoys the freedom to issue a
\npublication. However, the media has grown rapidly during the
\neconomic crisis and faces tight competition leading to rigid
\nefficiency and even exploitation of workers, including
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
Except for a few media organizations with grants or other
\nkinds of financial support, those who cannot keep up have had to
\nclose down. The consequences have been unresolved conflicts
\nwithin several media companies.<\/p>\n
Such conflicts in the media industry have become inevitable,
\nand have worsened the conditions in several media organizations.
\nIn the capital alone, numerous disputes of various types have
\nbeen handled by the union division of the Alliance of Independent
\nJournalists (AJI) in Jakarta and the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.<\/p>\n
Press freedom, which is still in its infancy, has not
\nliberated the media community from the fear of being a target of
\nviolence, state regulations or job security.<\/p>\n
Capital competition in the information sector has led to the
\ncollapse of several media companies. But it has also encouraged
\nnew experiments in media; some have failed while others have
\ncontinued. Creativity is thriving.<\/p>\n
Given these contrasting conditions, the task for new non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs) working in the media is to
\nstrengthen the freedom of the press and assure that it continues.
\nIts vulnerability encourages civil society -- represented by
\nthese NGOs -- to work on three platforms: Law enforcement, media
\ncommunity empowerment and the empowerment of media consumers.<\/p>\n
In law enforcement, there are currently two alliances
\ninvolved, respectively advocating their version of the
\nbroadcasting bill and the bill on freedom to access information.<\/p>\n
The legislation process faced by these coalitions is mainly
\nhampered by the authorities in charge of passing laws, the House
\nof Representatives, for several reasons.<\/p>\n
First is the many interests contested in the broadcasting
\nbill, such as that of media owners. Second, the lack of knowledge
\nof legislators on the essence of these bills. But there is also
\nthe third factor, the lack of experience of activists in working
\nthe intricacies of the legislation process in the House. All
\nthese reasons may have contributed to the results so far of the
\ncontroversial articles in the broadcasting bill.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, complaints about the lack of professionalism in the
\nmedia still abound, and many people could not care less about
\njournalists' job security or the threats made to their lives.<\/p>\n
Under these conditions, press freedom is still fragile. It
\nlacks a solid constituent willing to defend it in the face of
\nthreats.<\/p>\n
The seeds of press freedom that sprouted when former president
\nSoeharto resigned can easily be crushed -- either by capital
\ninterest, the political elite or even society, which is
\nexasperated by a lot of insensible news churned out day by day.<\/p>\n
The article is based on a paper to be presented at the
\nInternational Roundtable on Journalism and Freedom of Expression,
\nSept. 9-12, 2002 in Bali<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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