Indonesia’s broadcasting law raises press freedom fears – vopbuzz
Journalists in Indonesia condemned the incident Indonesian parliamentplans to revise the country’s course broadcasting law mouthpieces in the ways they said they would make them. freedom of the press.
If the broadcasting law is passed, Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) president Herik Kurniawan told DW.press castration“
“With this regulation [journalists] I can’t do anything; “We cannot conduct investigations, we cannot produce private journalism,” he said.“For example, in a corruption case, we should be able to handle that specifically.”
Why do journalists object? broadcasting law?
According to the International Federation of Journalists, the proposed revisions include a clause banning digital and television broadcasts of “private investigative journalism”. The bill would also target “LGBT content.”
The bill was also criticized on the grounds that it contravenes press rights enshrined in Indonesian law, namely that the Indonesian press is “not subject” to censorship or publication bans and that the press has the right to “seek, obtain and disseminate ideas and information”.
The Indonesian Press Council, a government body established in 1968 “to help the government support the growth and development of the national press”, said the revised bill would weaken its role.
One of the duties of the Press Council is to resolve disputes between the public and the press. The revised broadcasting bill requires dispute resolution to be handled by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission.
Ninik Rahayu, head of the Indonesian Press Council, said at a press conference on May 14 that, according to the bill, the resolution of journalistic disputes will be carried out by an institution that does not actually have authority over the ethical resolution of journalistic work.
“The authority to resolve journalistic matters lies with the Press Council and is specified in the law,” he added.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) data, Indonesia’s place in the global press freedom index decreased from 108th place in 2023 to 111th place in 2024.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia still ranks above Singapore (126), the Philippines (134) and Vietnam (174), but behind Timor-Leste (20), Thailand (87) and Malaysia (107).
Kurniawan, of the TV journalists’ association, said this was not the first attempt to seriously restrict press freedom in Indonesia. But he stressed that the articles banning investigative journalism were “the most serious attempt yet” to restrict press freedom.
Government denies restricting press freedom
Nurul Arifin, a member of the Indonesian parliament and a member of the working committee on the bill, emphasized that the committee is working to ensure that the revision of the broadcasting law does not hinder press freedom in Indonesia.
In a recent statement in Indonesian media, Arifin said the government “does not intend” to suppress media freedom with the revised bill.
He stated that the Parliament is open to feedback on the bill and that further revisions are ongoing and the criticized articles in the bill are still not finalized.
Revisions to the original broadcasting laws adopted in 2002 are deemed necessary to replace outdated old rules. Revision of the bill has been discussed since at least 2020, and it is the latest revised draft of the bill that contains the controversial clauses. It can be passed until September 2024.
If the broadcasting law is passed, Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) president Herik Kurniawan told DW.press castration“
“With this regulation [journalists] I can’t do anything; “We cannot conduct investigations, we cannot produce private journalism,” he said.“For example, in a corruption case, we should be able to handle that specifically.”
Why do journalists object? broadcasting law?
According to the International Federation of Journalists, the proposed revisions include a clause banning digital and television broadcasts of “private investigative journalism”. The bill would also target “LGBT content.”
The bill was also criticized on the grounds that it contravenes press rights enshrined in Indonesian law, namely that the Indonesian press is “not subject” to censorship or publication bans and that the press has the right to “seek, obtain and disseminate ideas and information”.
The Indonesian Press Council, a government body established in 1968 “to help the government support the growth and development of the national press”, said the revised bill would weaken its role.
One of the duties of the Press Council is to resolve disputes between the public and the press. The revised broadcasting bill requires dispute resolution to be handled by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission.
Ninik Rahayu, head of the Indonesian Press Council, said at a press conference on May 14 that, according to the bill, the resolution of journalistic disputes will be carried out by an institution that does not actually have authority over the ethical resolution of journalistic work.
“The authority to resolve journalistic matters lies with the Press Council and is specified in the law,” he added.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) data, Indonesia’s place in the global press freedom index decreased from 108th place in 2023 to 111th place in 2024.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia still ranks above Singapore (126), the Philippines (134) and Vietnam (174), but behind Timor-Leste (20), Thailand (87) and Malaysia (107).
Kurniawan, of the TV journalists’ association, said this was not the first attempt to seriously restrict press freedom in Indonesia. But he stressed that the articles banning investigative journalism were “the most serious attempt yet” to restrict press freedom.
Government denies restricting press freedom
Nurul Arifin, a member of the Indonesian parliament and a member of the working committee on the bill, emphasized that the committee is working to ensure that the revision of the broadcasting law does not hinder press freedom in Indonesia.
In a recent statement in Indonesian media, Arifin said the government “does not intend” to suppress media freedom with the revised bill.
He stated that the Parliament is open to feedback on the bill and that further revisions are ongoing and the criticized articles in the bill are still not finalized.
Revisions to the original broadcasting laws adopted in 2002 are deemed necessary to replace outdated old rules. Revision of the bill has been discussed since at least 2020, and it is the latest revised draft of the bill that contains the controversial clauses. It can be passed until September 2024.
