Underground media is acceptable, expert says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The growing number of underground publications,
\ndubbed \"alternative media\", is constitutional and acceptable as
\nlong as they use their freedom responsibly, a media observer said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Loebby Loqman, a lecturer of criminal law at the University of
\nIndonesia, said that alternative media is in line with the spirit
\nof Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution, which guarantees freedom
\nof speech.<\/p>\n
The Press Law of 1966, which is still in force, also
\nguarantees the freedom to publish, he said in a seminar organized
\nby the Alliance of Independent Journalist in commemoration of
\nthis year's National Press Day.<\/p>\n
\"However, there are legal aspects and social responsibilities
\nwhich must be observed when publishing such media,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Debates on \"alternative media\" resurfaced following the
\nclosure of the Editor, DeTIK and Tempo weeklies last year. The
\ngovernment's action also triggered endless debates as to the
\nrelevancy of the official publishing license.<\/p>\n
A legislator from the ruling Golkar group said Wednesday that
\nthe government's tight control has forced the public to believe
\nmore in rumors than in media publications.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's seminar was attended by publishers of several
\n\"alternative media\" publications, including vocal legislator
\nSabam Sirait, journalists Amir Daud and Jusril Djalinus,
\npolitical science lecturer Dwi Susanto and media activist
\nRachland Nashidik.<\/p>\n
Loebby pointed out that despite legal guarantees, the press is
\nstill restricted by administrative and criminal regulations as
\nwell as by ethical codes and international laws.<\/p>\n
\"The alternative media is free to say anything it wants.
\nHowever, as part of the press, it must not violate the law by
\nbeing slanderous or by exploiting sensational issues,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sabam, from the House of Representatives' Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party faction, said the existence of various
\nunlicensed publications indicates the existence of an excessive
\nconcentration of power, where state decisions are made by few
\npeople, and the flow of information is controlled.<\/p>\n
\"However, a better distribution of power can only happen if
\n(major parts of) the society want it. The press cannot force this
\nand can only encourage a more diverse distribution of power
\nthrough the free flow of information,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rachland Nashidik from the PIJAR Foundation pointed out that
\nunderground papers were nothing new in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Alternative media have existed since 1980 but, as we see, it
\nrequires the banning of three weeklies to bring the problem up to
\nthe surface,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rachland explained that underground publications could not be
\ncontrolled by the government in the way legal media could.
\nBecause of this, the publications have no need to \"self-censor\"
\nor engage in \"self-terrorizing\" practices.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, scholar Arief Budiman from the Satya Wacana
\nChristian University in Salatiga, Central Java, criticized the
\ndeclining social commitment of the press for their tendency to
\nside with those in power.<\/p>\n
\"The press has become a business industry. The clear
\nconsequence of this is that it becomes less responsive to the
\naspirations of the 'undercurrent' and instead becomes the
\nloudspeaker of its shareholders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His fellow lecturer George J. Aditjondro said the Indonesian
\npress was currently facing threats of \"eroding democratic values\"
\nand an increasing domination of business in the press industry.<\/p>\n
\"Before the press can define its commitment to these two
\nfactors, it is nothing more than a toothless tiger,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Prosperous Labor Union called on the press industry to pay
\nmore attention to the welfare of its employees. (har\/pwn)<\/p>",
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