Jakarta – The Press Council has issued a journalists' protection standard in a bid to protect media workers from violence, intimidation and censorship while upholding press freedom.

The guidelines say journalists are protected from acts of violence, seizure of their equipment and efforts to obstruct journalistic work by any party, which includes censorship. Media workers, however, must abide by the press code of ethics to be entitled to the protection.

"The protection standard is expected to help journalists work safely and peacefully so they can perform better," Press Council member Wina Armada Sukardi said over the weekend.

The guidelines say the state, the community and media companies are responsible for protecting journalists.

For stories that lead to legal disputes, the editors in chief or others responsible for publication represent the media companies. During questioning they can refuse to answer questions deemed irrelevant and can protect the identity of the sources.

Under the guidelines, employers cannot force journalists to write news stories that violate the press code of ethics.

When covering conflicts, journalists must be able to produce assignment letters, have insurance and safety equipment, and be well equipped with the knowledge and skills to work in conflict zones. They must maintain impartiality and avoid using symbols of any party in the dispute.

The guidelines also state journalists working in conflict-torn areas cannot be intimidated, held hostage or tortured, or killed.

Wina said the guidelines would enable the implementation of protection for journalists as stipulated in Press Law No. 40/1999.

The draft guidelines have been discussed three times in the past year with a number of media and nonmedia organizations, including the National Police, the Indonesian Military, the Justice and Human Rights Ministry and the Information and Communications Ministry.

Despite claims it recognizes press freedom, the government has drafted a criminal code that criminalizes works of journalism. There are at least 47 articles that media observers say can bring journalists to court, particularly for libel, defamation and inciting hatred of the government.

Human rights groups have said the draft criminal code places more restrictions on the press than the existing Criminal Code.