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)