Megawati boasts about RI's press freedom before Japanese media
Megawati boasts about RI's press freedom before Japanese media
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri says press freedom in Indonesia
is something she is proud of, despite restrictions placed on the
media.
Speaking to the Japan National Press Club on Monday, Megawati
claimed that press freedom was the most outstanding achievement
of the reform movement that commenced in 1998.
"The freedom that they (journalists) enjoy may be even greater
than that anywhere else in the world, even compared to Japan,"
Megawati said as quoted by Antara.
She said while many people questioned the excess of the
freedom, the government let the media community establish their
own regulations to keep them in compliance with common ethics.
The President also said the government fully respected freedom
of expression, which allowed the public to voice dissenting
opinion from the government's.
Megawati's remarks follow media restrictions regarding the
coverage of the ongoing military operation in Aceh.
The latest decree issued last week restricts the press from
conducting full coverage of the operation and keeps all media
from publishing statements from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
which violates the basic principle of impartiality.
These regulations are effective not only for local
publications in Aceh, but all Indonesian media.
The President herself has come under criticism at home for her
reluctance to talk to the press, especially to explain the
government's policies on major issues. Many times she has vented
her anger with the press for being excessive in their reporting.
Over the past few months many have also complained about the
restrictions on activists who have expressed dissatisfaction with
the government's performance.
A number of student protesters have been jailed for
"undermining the legitimate government and the President", but it
never stops students from continuing with their rallies against
the government. Megawati's government is the first since the fall
of dictator Soeharto to take such action against protesters.
Megawati was on the second day of a four-day state visit to
Japan as part of her overseas trip, which has already taken her
to Bangladesh and Mongolia. She heads to Vietnam next.
She received a red carpet welcome from Japan's Emperor Akihito
on Monday as the country's national guest.
Megawati is the second Indonesian president after Soeharto in
1968, who was welcomed as the country's guest.
In a grand ceremony in the front yard of Akasaka Palace on
Monday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, along with their
children, greeted Megawati and husband Taufik Kiemas.
Both leaders then exchanged gifts, after introducing the two
countries' entourages. Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was
also present.
The President is slated to meet Koizumi on Tuesday to discuss
free trade and other issues, such as the North Korea nuclear
crisis and Aceh.
Megawati will continue her trip to Vietnam on Wednesday, the
last stop of her trip before returning to Indonesia on Friday.