Media seen as timid

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The local media has lost much of its freedom since Megawati Soekarnoputri ascended to the presidency in July, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Alwi Sihab said on Wednesday.

Alwi said that the Indonesian media enjoyed maximum freedom during the administration of Megawati's predecessor, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

"This (less freedom of the press) is no secret. While during Gus Dur's administration, freedom of expression reached such heights that even the media in the West does not enjoy," said Alwi.

Alwi, who was Gus Dur's minister of foreign affairs, said that the New York Times, a leading American newspaper, once said that promoting freedom of the press and democracy was Gus Dur's best achievement.

Alwi made the remarks when addressing a discussion on democracy among activists of non-governmental organizations. --Antara