RI media yet to enjoy press freedom

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Most media in the country have yet to enjoy freedom of the press following the downfall of the repressive New Order regime in 1998 due to a number of factors, including economic constraints.

Chairman of the Indonesian Newspaper Publishers Association Leo Batubara revealed on Friday that only 30 percent of 596 print media in the country were considered "healthy" and profitable.

Of the electronic media, only 10 percent of 1,100 radio stations and three of 20 television stations were healthy.

"This situation has forced those unfortunate media, particularly tabloids, to produce sensational and bombastic publications to raise their circulation," he said on Friday.

As many media still struggled to survive, Leo added, they could not make use of the freedom they had to monitor the performance of the government, the legislature and the judiciary.

Hordes of new investors have entered the media industry following the abolition of licensing requirements by the government under former president B. J. Habibie, and the liquidation of the Ministry of Information, which practically controlled the media, by then president Abdurrahman Wahid.

However, the situation has been abused by corrupt businesspeople and politicians, who have bought media companies in order to control public opinion.

In addition to control by businesspeople, the media also faced another huge challenge: to free itself from the threat of mob violence.

Citing the recent attack by sympathizers of businessman Tomy Winata on Tempo magazine's offices, Leo also said that currently, the media had to deal with mob violence.

Chief editor of Tempo Bambang Harymurti said that growing violence against the media served as a setback for press freedom in the country.

"I think it has happened due to legal uncertainties here," he said, adding that there was no reason for people to resort to physical abuse against the media.

Alliance of Independence Journalists (AJI) chairperson Ati Nurbaiti concurred, saying that such violence could cause the media to censor itself, and this was dangerous for the media, given its position as watchdog on the government, the legislature and the judiciary.

"Our judicial system and its officials can do nothing (to support the media). Worse, there is nothing significant to prevent violence against the press," said Ati in a statement.

Bambang, whose magazine is currently involved in a legal dispute with Tomy, suggested the press council should act as an arbiter to handle disputes involving the media.

"People may sue the media in court, but if they choose to settle their dispute with the media through the press council, they need no longer proceed with a lawsuit," he said.

Bambang said that the choice would benefit all parties, as not all disputes involving the media needed to be resolved in court, a process that required both time and money.

He also suggested the media and press council promote legislation about the press among the public and the authorities in a bid to raise their awareness of press freedom.