Draft law frees new media from license

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus recommended on Wednesday the abolition of the obligation for print media to obtain publishing licenses (SIUPP), marking another breakthrough for reform in the sector.

He also hinted that foreign investment would be granted access to invest in national print media.

"The Indonesian mass media do not need to obtain a publishing license, but only to register with the Ministry of Information to start their business," he told a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives (DPR), initiating the deliberation of a draft press law on Wednesday.

He was quoting article 6 of the draft press law, which requires a publication to fill in an application form and submit a copy of its notarial document, indicating its establishment.

"The new press law will also guarantee that the Indonesian press will be free from any kind of censorship and be immune from any government press ban," he said, quoting article 3 of the draft press law.

Yunus' surprising moves started in June last year, when he issued Decree No. 1/1998, which canceled a 1984 ruling signed by his predecessor Harmoko. The older ruling gave the minister the right to revoke the licenses of press publications.

At the time, however, he still retained power to suspend the license of publications that violated the terms of their permit, saying that he would use such power only for a "certain period of time".

In terms of responsibility, however, the draft law maintains the contents of the 1982 Press Law, which puts the general manager of a print medium responsible for its management and the editor in chief for its editorial content.

It also recommends maintaining the existence of the Press Council, whose duties are to analyze media-related problems and advise the government and public on solutions.

The council is also expected to protect the national media from other parties' interests, to improve the standard of the professional media and to receive, analyze and settle all media- related complaints from the public.

While granting comprehensive press freedom, the draft press law rules that Indonesian mass media should always maintain the principle of the presumption of innocence and not present biased and slanted reporting.

Yunus said the draft press law, if adopted by the House, would allow foreign investors to participate in financing national mass media operations.

"However, foreign investment cannot monopolize the ownership of national mass media," he said. "Equity participation of foreign capital can only be channeled through listing on the stock exchange."

He also said the ownership of national media could not be monopolized by a group or an individual because it would hamper the public's rights and opportunity to obtain more information from various sources.

The draft law also rules that the national media will not be allowed to publish advertisements, which contain messages from certain religions, individuals or groups which are insulting to other people, religions or groups. The advertisement section of print media also will be banned from disproportional promotion of products and services.

In addition, the national media will be barred from publishing advertisements for liquor, cigarettes or other addictive substances. (imn)