Blontank Poer, Surakarta – Bloggers and online community groups have urged lawmakers to scrap an article on libel from the 2008 Information and Electronic Transaction Law.

At a seminar Friday in Surakarta, Central Java, to discuss the law, several prominent bloggers expressed concern they could face the same fate as Prita Mulyasari, a former patient at Omni International Hospital who is now on trial for defaming the hospital after sending emails complaining about its services.

In another case, police in Bogor, West Java, are currently investigating a woman accused of slander after posting a comment on Facebook.

"I'm having to be more careful now, but most of my online friends are afraid of posting anything," said Sigit, from the Bengawan Blogging Community in Surakarta. "The article on libel should be annulled and the newly inaugurated House of Representatives' members should amend the law."

The seminar was held by Sebelas Maret University's School of Communications, the Bengawan Blogging Community and the university's communications program.

Jakarta Legal Aid Institute media director Hendrayana said the libel article served solely as a "weapon for authorities to control their critics and others".

"Many other countries have scrapped articles on libel from their laws," he said. "The stipulation on libel in our law only stifles freedom of expression for the online and blogging community, and thus violates Article 28 of the Constitution."

Jakarta Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Watch director Donny B.U. called for the Indonesian online community to take the lead in demanding the annulment of the article. "The clause is counterproductive for the accomplishment of public rights to conduct supervision."

Donny and Hendrayana agreed Prita's defamation case highlighted the judiciary's lean toward corporate interests over individual rights.

Media analyst Mursito B.M. said those in power were more likely to sue for libel. "That power can be in the form of capital of political clout, and most of those who claim their reputations have been sullied are those with pre-existing reputation problems."

He cited the Prita case showed how the hospital felt threatened by its former patient's complaints. "If Prita's was treated properly to begin with, there would be no complaints," Mursito said. "Oddly enough, she's now threatened with jail time just for speaking her mind."

Hendrayana said the information and electronic transaction law should strive to protect consumers. "I believe the article was intentionally included to bully Internet users from expressing their opinions," he said.

Donny urged the online community and bloggers not to fear the law. "We should put up a fight together so the law can quickly be amended by the new House," he said. "The online community should unite and rise to the challenge."