VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has asked President Joko Widodo to ensure that the new Criminal Code is not used to prosecute journalists.

At the 2023 National Press Day commemoration event in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Thursday, PWI chairperson Atal S. Depari started his speech by asking for time to represent colleagues in the press community and convey their aspirations on the new Criminal Code.

PWI pointed out that freedom of the press and freedom of expression could be threatened by the new Criminal Code passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) last December.

Some articles in the new Criminal Code, if not used prudently, could be used to prosecute journalists and media companies performing their journalistic work, he said.

"I sincerely hope that Mr. President (will ensure) that (the new Criminal Code) will not be used, even once, to prosecute a journalist. This is our aspiration, and I believe Mr. President, ministers, the military, and the police all want to hear the aspirations of the press community," Depari said.

Prosecuting journalists under the new Criminal Code will harm the spirit of Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press, which must be prioritized for handling cases involving journalists and their work, he added.

Meanwhile, Depari also expressed the hope that the President will enshrine publisher rights in a regulation to bolster the quality of journalism in Indonesia.

"I appeal to the President to finalize a presidential regulation on publisher rights promptly," he said.

He noted that Widodo had promised the publisher right protection during the 2022 National Press Day in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, as an instrument to improve the sustainability of the national press. (Antaranews)