Media freedom, a necessity
The police's interrogation on Sept. 8 of ANteve's news manager Bachtiar as a witness of the criminal act charged to chief editor/head of ANteve broadcasting operation section, to broadcast matters that instigate, oppose and likely disturb the nation's cohesion and unity, gives cause for great concern and clearly is a repressive measure that obstructs the process of reform promised by the government because it shows again that the police are only one of the tools of the power holders to strengthen their position.
In the first place, what is seen as disturbing and threatening the cohesion and unity of the nation still needs to be defined clearly. Also, in what way the ANteve report is seen as disturbing the nation's cohesion and unity needs to be explained in more detail. The interrogation is only an effort of intimidation while the law used as the basis of the interrogation can be analyzed arbitrarily by the power holders.
The police need to understand that measures to prevent the broadcasting of balanced news in fact violates citizens' right for access to unbiased information. We should remember and learn from our history that the obstruction of access to information results in rumors that can cause unrest in the community and has even given rise to riots. Freedom of press needs to be protected because the press must also participate in ensuring a clean government.
Do we want to take steps forward or return to the despotic era of the New Order which clearly abounded with mistakes? Let us hope that the Habibie government does not end with the return of the power of the military including the police, as a repressive tool of the power holders. If the state security bill, submitted to the House of Representatives, is passed into law, the repression by the power holders will have legitimacy.
The police must be able to show their independence and authority as upholders of the real truth and not the repressive quasi-truth that is always maintained by a tyrannical government.
AMIR SIDHARTA
Jakarta