Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Press Groups: Regulations, Violence Constrain Indonesia's Journalists

Rio Tuasikal

   Leonard Triyono contributed to this report, which originated on [1]VOA
   Indonesia.

   JAKARTA, INDONESIA -- The Indonesian press continues to be constrained
   by regulations and acts of violence, according to Abdul Manan,
   chairperson of the [2]Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

   "The government produced regulations that did not support freedom of
   the press, with which, as we are aware of in recent times, many have
   become the victims," he said last week on the sidelines of the AJI
   national conference on the challenges of journalism in the digital age.

   The regulations that have the potential to impede the press were
   ratified in 2014 by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the
   People's Representative Council (DPR), Regional People's
   Representatives Council (DPRD) and the Regional Representative Council
   (DPD).

   Known collectively as the MD3, the regulations regulate punishment for
   those who are charged with insulting the MPR, DPR, DPRD and DPD.
   Meanwhile, Indonesia's Amended Criminal Code contains 13 articles that
   can be used to silence criticism of the government, its policies and
   officials.

   However, the [3]Information and Electronic Transaction Law (ITE)
   originally passed in 2008 and amended in 2016 has been used against 14
   journalists, seven media outlets, and dozens of private citizens
   between 2013 to 2018, according to data from the [4]Southeast Asian
   Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet).

References

   1. https://www.voaindonesia.com/
   2. https://gijn.org/member/alliance-of-independent-journalists/
   3. https://www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/indonesia-revised-information-law-controversial/
   4. http://safenetvoice.org/

.