'Law hampers press freedom'
'Law hampers press freedom'
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Press Council vice chairman R.H. Siregar says loopholes in press
law No. 40/1999 hamper freedom of the press in Indonesia by
treating journalists as criminals.
Speaking at a discussion on freedom of the press here on
Thursday, Siregar said that Article 12 of the law stated that, in
some cases, journalists and members of the media could be
processed according to the Criminal Code.
"It is better to fine or ban journalists who are suspected of
violating the law from reporting, rather than imprisoning them."
The recent case involving Tempo magazine and businessman Tommy
Winata has led Tempo's Bambang Harymurti and Ahmad Taufik to be
charged under Article 310 of the Criminal Code on defamation and
Article 311 on libel, which carry maximum punishments of nine
months and four years in prison, respectively.
Police also stated earlier this month that both had violated
Article 5(1) of the press law on the media's obligation to
respect religious norms and public decency, as well as to adhere
to the principle of presumption of innocence. The article carries
a maximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$56,179).
Siregar questioned the term "presumption of innocence". "What
does it really mean? There is no explanation in the law to define
that abstract term."
He also said that besides the press law, the state, society
and journalists themselves could hamper press freedom.
Journalist Cyrillus Kerong of Bisnis Indonesia daily presented
a critique of the press during the seminar. "We should admit that
journalists sometimes disregard ethics in reporting. Because of
tight deadlines and a lack of concern, journalists often prepare
news stories sloppily."
Siregar underlined Kerong's statement, saying that negligence
by journalists could lead to libel indictments that might bring
the press to the brink of bankruptcy.
"I remember one daily newspaper was accused of libel and was
looking at have to pay Rp 400 billion (about US$45 million). They
would have been bankrupt if they had had to pay that amount."
Attendants at the seminar also discussed concerns raised by
the people that the national press was promoting anarchism and
thuggery with its unbalanced and negligent reporting.
However, Taufik, who also addressed the seminar, said that in
Tempo's case the people who attacked the magazine's office in
Central Jakarta in early March were not true representatives of
society.
"In my eyes, they were 'fabricated society'. They brought fire
trucks with them, so I would have to conclude that the attack was
well-prepared, not spontaneous," he said.
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Press Council vice chairman R.H. Siregar says loopholes in press
law No. 40/1999 hamper freedom of the press in Indonesia by
treating journalists as criminals.
Speaking at a discussion on freedom of the press here on
Thursday, Siregar said that Article 12 of the law stated that, in
some cases, journalists and members of the media could be
processed according to the Criminal Code.
"It is better to fine or ban journalists who are suspected of
violating the law from reporting, rather than imprisoning them."
The recent case involving Tempo magazine and businessman Tommy
Winata has led Tempo's Bambang Harymurti and Ahmad Taufik to be
charged under Article 310 of the Criminal Code on defamation and
Article 311 on libel, which carry maximum punishments of nine
months and four years in prison, respectively.
Police also stated earlier this month that both had violated
Article 5(1) of the press law on the media's obligation to
respect religious norms and public decency, as well as to adhere
to the principle of presumption of innocence. The article carries
a maximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$56,179).
Siregar questioned the term "presumption of innocence". "What
does it really mean? There is no explanation in the law to define
that abstract term."
He also said that besides the press law, the state, society
and journalists themselves could hamper press freedom.
Journalist Cyrillus Kerong of Bisnis Indonesia daily presented
a critique of the press during the seminar. "We should admit that
journalists sometimes disregard ethics in reporting. Because of
tight deadlines and a lack of concern, journalists often prepare
news stories sloppily."
Siregar underlined Kerong's statement, saying that negligence
by journalists could lead to libel indictments that might bring
the press to the brink of bankruptcy.
"I remember one daily newspaper was accused of libel and was
looking at have to pay Rp 400 billion (about US$45 million). They
would have been bankrupt if they had had to pay that amount."
Attendants at the seminar also discussed concerns raised by
the people that the national press was promoting anarchism and
thuggery with its unbalanced and negligent reporting.
However, Taufik, who also addressed the seminar, said that in
Tempo's case the people who attacked the magazine's office in
Central Jakarta in early March were not true representatives of
society.
"In my eyes, they were 'fabricated society'. They brought fire
trucks with them, so I would have to conclude that the attack was
well-prepared, not spontaneous," he said.