http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/03/12/indonesian-press-must-expand-freedom-expression.html

Indonesian press must expand freedom of expression


Fri, 03/12/2010 5:55 PM  |  National 

Journalists gathered to discuss the book on press freedom by American author 
Lee Bollinger at Hotel Aryaduta, Central Jakarta, Friday, urged Indonesia's 
media people to continue their battle against the ongoing attacks and 
constraints against freedom of expression in the country. 

Endy Bayuni, chief editor of The Jakarta Post, who was speaking at the 
gathering, cited a reference to the 1948 Universal Declarations of Human 
Rights, which specifically advocates freedom of expression, in Bollinger's book 
titled "Uninhibited, Robust and Wide-Open". 

He urged local journalists to push to expand the freedom of the press despite 
the ongoing abuses against the media in Indonesia. 

"The number of violations against the rights of journalists is increasing every 
year," Ezki Suyanto of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, said. She 
pointed out the February 2009 murder of a journalist from Radar Bali, AA 
Narendra Prabangsa, who was writing news on corruption involving a government 
official.

According to Ezki Suyanto current regulations run counter to the country's 
constitution that advocates freedom of expression and the right to obtain and 
distribute information. She cited the Information and Electronic Transaction 
and Anti-Pornography Law as examples. 

"Indonesian journalists are now facing more regulations than even those that 
existed in the colonial domination era back in 1910-1930," Andreas Harsono of 
Pantau Foundation said during the discussion. (not)

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