MPR asked to ensure press freedom

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Press and Broadcast Society (MPPI) urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to put a specific article in the Constitution to ensure freedom of the press.

Members of the Assembly's ad hoc committee for constitutional amendment (PAH 1), however, rejected the proposal.

"There already is enough freedom of the press," said Fuad Bawazier, a member of PAH 1 from the Reform faction.

The proposed article reads "all regulations and laws that halt freedom of the press shall be banned".

MPPI Coordinator Leo S. Batubara insisted that some existing laws had been a serious threat to the freedom of the press. They included Laws No.23/1959 on a state of emergency and No.1/1995 on private companies, and the Criminal Code. -- JP