Indonesian press enjoys freedom: PWI
Indonesian press enjoys freedom: PWI
JAKARTA (JP): The local media industry enjoys freedom although not to the same degree as that found in the West, the leaders of the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) said yesterday.
"The print and electronic media are free to report anything provided as long as they are based on facts and still in compliance with the journalistic ethics code," PWI Chairman Sofjan Lubis said.
Speaking during a media conference about an upcoming PWI seminar to reflect the role of the Indonesian media in 50 years of independence, Sofjan said press freedom should be applied in the context of Indonesia's social, political and cultural setting. "The press is still free, but the freedom is not similar to that applied in other countries," he said.
Sofjan underlined that Indonesia has been pursuing a press that is free and responsible and that the freedom that the press has should be used in accordance with the Pancasila state ideology.
"Press freedom in Indonesia is guaranteed by the constitution," he said. "But there are limitations (on how far the press can go). Publishers and broadcasters must avoid running libelous matter, obscenities and other matters that may offend their readers and viewers."
PWI Secretary General Parni Hadi, who accompanied Sofjan in the meeting, described that the press in Indonesia is already "very free".
"If the press is not free, then cannot criticize the government," he said, adding that some newspaper publications have even thrived on conflicts.
Sofjan said the Indonesian press also has a responsibility in preserving national unity and cohesion and must therefore refrain from publishing stories that could divide the nation, such as those that exploit racial, ethnical and religious differences.
The one-day discussion organized by PWI on Wednesday will feature senior journalists as speakers, including Rosihan Anwar, Jacob Oetama of Kompas daily newspaper, Any Idrus of the Medan- based Waspada daily, Sabam Siagian of The Jakarta Post and Zaim Uhrowi of the Republika daily.
A press photo exhibition will be held at the same time at the venue at Hotel Indonesia.
Sofjan also denied the suggestions that PWI has been a tool of the government, pointing out that the association in the past sought to reverse the government's rulings when three news magazines were closed last year and a tabloid met a similar fate a few years ago.
"PWI has done a lot of things," Sofjan said, pointing out that when the effort failed, the association helped the displaced journalists secure new press publishing licenses. (rms)