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SBY promises press freedom during election

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vowed there would be no bans on press coverage during the ongoing election campaign period, despite sanctions for violating a law on campaign advertising and broadcasting in the media

Desy Nurhayati (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, August 2, 2008

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SBY promises press freedom during election

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vowed there would be no bans on press coverage during the ongoing election campaign period, despite sanctions for violating a law on campaign advertising and broadcasting in the media.

The President was responding to a call by the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) asking him to scrap articles in the law which might threaten press freedom.

PWI said the articles contradicted the 1999 press law, which granted the press freedom from any form of censorship or license revocation.

"Our spirit is toward reform, so there will be no censorship," Yudhoyono told PWI executives at the State Palace on Thursday.

The election law requires the media to allocate equal space, either on coverage or advertisements, for all parties contesting the 2009 legislative election. It mandates the National Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the Press Council to supervise the media's compliance with the law and impose sanctions on those in violation of it.

"There should be no contradictions in the laws. Therefore, I will ask the communications minister to analyze and resolve any conflicts immediately, because the press is the government's partner," Yudhoyono said.

Newly elected PWI chairman Margiono said earlier the group hoped the government would uphold press freedom.

"We expect to see the President use the rest of his time in office to make a good mark by ensuring press freedom," he said.

"Former president Habibie paved the way for press freedom, and under Yudhoyono's term, we hope it will be guaranteed, with no more threats against journalists."

He said PWI planned to file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court to have the articles removed.

Yudhoyono supported the plan, saying "Everybody has their own political rights and I will not deter them."

"I agree the press law should be entirely implemented for the good of all," he added.

Communication and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh said the government would ensure there would be no censorship, despite the overlapping laws.

"We guarantee there will be no censorship against the media or revocation of licenses, especially during the campaign period," he said.

"Besides, the sanctions called for are only a possibility, and not mandatory."

PWI also sought the President's support for the use of the press law instead of the Criminal Code as the basis for resolving disputes over news reports.

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