Law on freedom of expression enacted
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)