Law on freedom of expression enacted
JAKARTA (JP): Cabinet ministers confirmed on Thursday that President B.J. Habibie enacted the law on freedom of expression on Oct. 23, the day after the House of Representatives endorsed it.
The confirmation that the law -- produced after an unprecedently short deliberation period of only 20 days -- had come into effect was given separately by Minister of Defense/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto and Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung.
"President Habibie signed the freedom of expression bill on Oct. 23. The law has been in effect since then," Akbar told reporters after attending a welcome ceremony for the new ambassadors of the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
After accompanying Habibie at a meeting with Brunei Darussalam's military commander Maj. Gen. Pengiran Abidin bin Pengiran Ahmad, Wiranto told reporters: "The law became effective on the same day the President put his signature on the document."
He refused to respond to reporters' question whether the rowdy rally of about 10,000 students outside the House complex on Wednesday had breached any regulations.
Both ministers accepted the public had yet to become familiar with the law. Wiranto called on both security personnel and legislators to help publicize it.
"We hope everybody, especially those who choose demonstrations as the means of expressing their opinions and aspirations, can understand and immediately put the articles into practice," Wiranto said.
"Hopefully, there will be no misunderstanding between the protesters, who want to air their aspirations, and the security forces, who seek to maintain order," he added.
The Armed Forces commander dismissed speculation that the speedy enactment of the new law was meant to bar people from staging demonstrations.
"Please bear in mind the security apparatus' presence (at rallies) is not meant to prevent the demonstrations. They are only there to... monitor... so the events will be orderly and not disturb other people's activities," he said.
"Any activities which are meant to channel the freedom of expression of individuals or groups of individuals should not disturb other people's freedom to carry on with their activities."
The law says that protesters need to notify the police in writing three days ahead of any planned demonstration.
Details must include the objectives of the gathering, the venue, itinerary, time of commencement and duration, names and addresses of the individuals or groups organizing the action, equipment to be used and the number of participants.
The term "expression of opinion in public" in the law covers demonstrations, street rallies, mass gatherings, and free-speech forums.
Minister of Justice Muladi suggested on Thursday the government should formally announce that the law had come into effect so the public could adapt to it.
He also commented on Wednesday's massive rally when the protesters, unhappy at being blocked from approaching the complex, occupied the six-lane Jl. Gatot Subroto and the toll road between the two carriageways and tore down the wire fence between the street and the toll road.
"We still tolerate their actions, (because we're) still waiting for the new law to be publicized before enforcing it to the letter," Muladi said after installing six new State Administrative Courts and the Cibinong District Court in Bogor regency.
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman said the students would not have damaged any property had they understood the new law.
Asked whether the student demonstrators had become "anarchic", Djadja said they should have stopped after they finished airing their demands. (imn/ivy)