To;
Friends of the Journalist
around the world.
Let me convey a portrait of Indonesian press life intact to journalist colleagues around the world about the poor protection of press freedom in Indonesia.
The main problem that became a frightening specter for the country's press was the rampant criminalization of the press that occurred in various regions of journalistic work, which was carried out by police officers on the recommendation of the Press Council. Criminalization of the press that culminated in the death of a Progress Media journalist in South Kalimantan, the late Muhammad Yusuf has sparked protests in various regions, including our recent action in Jakarta. Criminalization and violence against the press in Indonesia from year to year seems to continue without any anticipation from the government to solve the problem.
Based on records from various press organizations, there are 663 cases of violence against the press that occurred during the last 10 years. In 2008 there were 58 cases of violence, 38 cases in 2009, 51 cases in 2010, 45 cases in 2011, 56 cases in 2012, 40 cases in 2013, 40 cases in 2014, 42 cases in 2015, 81 cases in 2016 and 83 cases in 2017. Of the 663 cases of violence against the press, including physical violence, expulsion and prohibition of coverage, the threat of violence and terror, the destruction of coverage tools, attacks on news agencies, and criminal work against journalism.
The rise of violence and criminalization of the press in Indonesia caused the Press Release Index of Independence Index in Indonesia at world level Reporters Without Borders version of 2018 was only ranked 128th out of 180 countries. Indicators of this threat of freedom of the press is certainly in sync with the facts of violence against journalists in Indonesia who each year to reach the number of cases since the last 5 years.
Of the many cases of violence against the press in Indonesia, almost no one processed using Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press as a legal reference. Even in general cases of violence against journalists conducted by officials or law enforcement officers only end up apologized by the perpetrator against the victim, and his legal case does not end up in court. In fact, there is also no attempt by the Press Council to join the press for the perpetrators of violence against the press to be liable to sanctions in accordance with the Press Law which there is a penalty of imprisonment and a fine of 500 million rupiah.
The issue that threatens the independence of the press is the policy of the Press Council which carries out media verification and competency test of journalists. Unverified media and journalists who have not or have not followed the UKW will be considered illegal by the Press Council in carrying out its journalistic duties. As evidenced in the various cases of press dispute, the Press Council did not hesitate to issue a recommendation with the consideration that the journalists who became unified have not followed the UKW and the media where the journalist worked has not been verified so that the complained case can be forwarded to the police with the general criminal article.
The policy of the Press Council also threatens the existence and legitimacy of 43,000 unverified mass media. The 43,000 unverified media, in addition to losing legitimacy, are also threatened to be criminalized by the Press Council. Hundreds of thousands of journalists and press workers are in danger of losing their jobs unemployed because about 43,000 printed and electronic media (versions of the Press Council) that have not been verified are threatened by mass councils by the Press Council.
Under these circumstances it is evident that the Press Council "succeeds" in creating a portrait of press freedom in Indonesia in the eyes of the international community at the bottom. The role of press organizations in protecting journalists from the threat of criminalization and violence has been taken away by the Press Council's regulations.
