Pers Kita Belum Bebas? (Kolom, Tempo, 9 Mei 2010) [Is Our Press Not Yet Free? (Column, Tempo, 9 May 2010)]

Abstract

A column by senior journalist Bambang Harymurti on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2010. The author argues that twelve years after Reformasi the Indonesian press was not yet fully free: Reporters Sans Frontières ranked Indonesia 101st out of 175 countries, and Freedom House classified it as "partly free", even though in terms of political and civil rights Indonesia already had "free" status. Citing research by Roumeen Islam of the World Bank Institute, he points to the criminalisation of defamation and insult as the main obstacle, made worse by the penalties under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, which are almost three times those of the Criminal Code (KUHP), as seen in the case of Prita Mulyasari. The author proposes abolishing criminal defamation offences, shifting the burden of proof to the civil domain, improving the Press Law, and demanding professionalism from the press and a critical attitude from the public.