Editors reject 'excessive' label

JAKARTA: Several editors refuted on Thursday claims that the Indonesian press had got out of control in the current reform era.

Despite the absence of clear criteria and definition on whether or not the press had become "excessive", such labels would only disturb the freedom of the press, they said.

"There must be criteria on the excessiveness of the media," said Leo S. Hutabarat of the Association of Newspapers Publishers (SPS) during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I members.

He urged the public to bring to court newspapers or magazines that violated the law.

According to the editors, there are two mechanisms to deal with violations.

If the mass media violated the press code of ethics, the case would be handled by the Press Council, but if the mass media committed a crime than the case would be processed by the police. -- JP