APSN Banner

Aceh press bill riles journalists

Source
Jakarta Globe - January 26, 2009

Nurdin Hasan & Anita Rachman – A chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, or AJI, in Aceh Province has rejected the proposed regional Islamic Press and Broadcasting Bylaw, saying it could undermine press freedom.

"There is no need for the [provincial legislature] to issue such pointless legislation," said Mukhtaruddin Yakob, chairman of AJI's chapter in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh. "Journalists have their own regulations: the press law and our own code of ethics."

Details of the proposed legislation remain unclear as a draft has yet to be released because the Aceh branch of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission, or KPI, has received several complaints, particularly from the press and local nongovernmental organizations.

"We are warning the Aceh government to stop discussions on the bill," Mukhtaruddin said. "We want to stop it even at the embryonic stage."

The Aceh provincial legislative council and the KPI have been discussing the bill since August.

"The AJI worries that if the bill is passed, press freedom in Aceh – which was welcomed after the tsunami – will be threatened," Mukhtaruddin said. "The AJI demands that the bill be rejected."

Jajang Jamaludin, secretary general of AJI Indonesia, said journalistic freedom is under threat. "Journalists in Aceh should watch this closely," he said.

Country