Editors reject 'excessive' label

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