KUHP contradicts press law

KUHP contradicts press law

JAMBI CITY, Jambi: Law No. 40/1999 on the press can not be
implemented smoothly if legal enforcers instead use the Criminal
Code (KUHP) in dealing with violations within and against the
mass media.

Vice Chairman of the Press Council RH Siregar said on Thursday
that legal enforcers were accustomed to charging journalists for
violations in their stories.

"Legal charges are based on article 55 of the KUHP which
contradicts the press law. The press law requires the police and
other law enforcers to charge publishing companies for the
violation," he said.

Siregar said there would not be real press freedom if the
press law was not fully implemented.

He called on the press community and the police to seek ways
to amend either the KUHP or the press law so that there was
better uniformity. --Antara