Indonesian group gets IPI independence prize

Indonesian group gets IPI independence prize

GRANADA, Spain (AP): Indonesia's Alliance of Independent
Journalists (AJI) was awarded the International Press Institute's
"Free Media Pioneer '97" prize Monday at the opening of the
group's sixth annual meeting.

Satrio Arismunandar, secretary-general of AJI, accepted the
award before a gathering of more than 500 journalists and other
members of the media from around the globe.

In a brief opening statement, King Juan Carlos applauded
journalists for their "sacrifices and unselfishness" on behalf of
democracy.

The king urged the media to be the voice of "dialog, tolerance
and mutual respect between peoples and cultures."

The award presentation was made by Charles Overby, president
and CEO of The Freedom Forum along with Peter Preston, chairman
of the International Press Institute and editorial director of
The Guardian and Observer newspapers in England.