(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Indonesian Press Council is urging the government to revise a draft Criminal Code containing provisions specifically covering journalists. The council said the Criminal Code could be used to prosecute journalists, which would threaten Indonesia’s hard-earned press freedom and undermine press laws passed precisely to safeguard and encourage a responsible media. Leo Batubara […]
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Indonesian Press Council is urging the government to revise a draft Criminal Code containing provisions specifically covering journalists. The council said the Criminal Code could be used to prosecute journalists, which would threaten Indonesia’s hard-earned press freedom and undermine press laws passed precisely to safeguard and encourage a responsible media.
Leo Batubara of the Press Council said he met with Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh on 3 May 2005 and asked that the council’s concern be relayed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Under the proposed Criminal Code, “any journalist who violates the new draft could be jailed for up to seven years,” Batubara told the “Jakarta Post”.
In a press release, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) said at least 49 articles in the draft code could land journalists in jail. These violations would include the publication of articles violating a ban on the spread of communist doctrine, and leaking state secrets and libel.
Batubara said the Press Council found this alarming. He pointed out that Indonesia’s existing Press Law already lays down civil remedies for press infractions that are powerful and intimidating enough in themselves to send journalists to jail or to financially cripple media offices.
“What is the use of our Press Law if the new Criminal Code will be used to put journalists behind bars?” Batubara told the “Jakarta Post”.
The Press Council has been seeking a dialogue with drafters of the new Criminal Code, but so far their invitations have been ignored, Batubara said.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office agreed that journalists should not be prosecuted under the Criminal Code but noted that the attorney general did not have the authority to prevent legislators in their initiatives.
Chairul Huda, a member of the team responsible for the new Criminal Code draft, said they had no intention of restricting press freedom.
