News Content to be in Line with NKRI Corridor: MCIT Minister

Jakarta, InfoPublik - The Indonesian government respects freedom of  press and journalism, but the Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Minister Rudiantara asked journalists and media  to create news content which are in accordance with the corridors of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

MMinister asked journalists and media to not spread content deemed seditious which could cause negative impacts on society. "We ask the press to keep in the corridor of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia  by obeying the journalistic code of ethics," Rudiantara told the Press Conference of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2017 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Tuesday (2/5).

According to him, the government has given a the national press full freedom, as stated in one of the articles in the Press Law No. 40 of 1999 which ensures legal certainty for journalists.

"Since press freedom reform, the Law No. 40 (PRESS Law no. 40 of of 1999-red) has evidenced no government intervention to the press in Indonesia," said the minister.

Moreover, the Minister continued, the government’s support for press in Indonesia is also provided through Law Number 14 of 2008 on Public Information Openness. The law facilitates journalists to obtain information related to certain agency or ministry as the news material.

"With Public Information Opennes Law,  sanction could be impoed to those who do not comply, " he said.
The Minister expected the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD)  which took place from 1-4 May, 2017 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) to generate journalism guidelines in Southeast Asia related to press freedom.

"When opening the consultative roundtable, we agreed to create a benchmark and reference for press freedom in Southeast Asia," said Rudiantara. (Reporter: Tri Antoro, Translator: Sugiarti)