Freedom of the press 'disregarded' by MPR

Freedom of the press 'disregarded' by MPR

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Press and Broadcasting Society
(MPPI) expressed regret on Thursday at the disregard of members
of the People's Consultative Assembly for protecting and
enhancing press freedom in the constitutional amendments
currently being drafted.

The organization criticized the Assembly because it did not
explicitly touch on the question of freedom of the press in its
proposed amendments to the 1945 Constitution.

"MPPI is of the opinion that the draft of the amendment of the
1945 Constitution on human rights, which rules on freedom of
expression, communication and freedom of information, is still
not strong enough to ensure freedom of the press," it said in a
statement.

Freedom of expression in Indonesia is generally guaranteed
under Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution which stipulates that
freedom of association and assembly, of expressing thoughts and
writing is protected by the state.

However MPPI has proposed stronger amendments, including one
which would ensure the prohibition of any law against freedom of
the press.

Separately, a coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) and the Alliance of Nusantara Cultural Society (AMAN)
criticized the Assembly for not involving the public in drafting
the Constitution amendments.

"Constitutional amendments are only owned by the political
factions in the Assembly, who are fighting for their own
interests and not the interests of millions of Indonesian
people," the coalition, which groups over a dozen NGOs, said in a
statement. (prb)