Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has made several recommendations to stop the criminalization of the press, which include the issuance of a Supreme Court circular requiring that decisions in press cases follow jurisprudence.

In Indonesia, courts currently convict journalists and media companies over charges of defamation based on libel articles in the Criminal Code.

Dyah Aryani, program manager for the Indonesia Media Law and Policy Center, said Indonesia embraced the continental legal system, which does not compel judges to follow precedents set in the application of the law.

"Therefore, the judges are allowed to make their own interpretation of the law. To build a similar perception among all judges, the Supreme Court should issue a circular which will become the basis for making decisions on press-related cases," Dyah said during a discussion on the decriminalizing of the press on Wednesday.

Misbahuddin Gasma, a press activist and former director of Legal Aid for the Press, said a public examination of press-related verdicts and awareness programs on press liberties for law enforcers, such as judges, attorneys and lawyers, was important.