PWI Says Criminal Code Bill Resurrects Colonialism Leading to Oppression
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16 November 2022 19:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Press Council member Nini Rahayu said 22 articles from nine sectors in the criminal code bill or RKUHP have the potential to threaten civil society liberties and limit the space for the press. The statement was made during a discussion that was also attended by the House of Representatives (DPR) member at Jakarta Ritz Carlton on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
Responding to Nini’s statement, a member of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Wina Armada considered the bill as a setback to regulations in the country as it revived colonialism which triggered oppression in efforts to convey the truth.
“The RKUHP still includes artikelen (articles on hatred against the authorities). This article is created to suppress movements in Indonesia so that they cannot be independent,” she said.
She underlined that without an independent press, there is no democracy. “The press is the soul of democracy.”
Meanwhile, a House member from Commission III Muhammad Nasir said that there should be no attempt to impede the press from fulfilling basic rights. Such an act, he added, violates democracy. The basic rights in question are the freedom of the people to obtain information and convey information.
Previously, the DPR's Legal Commission chairman Bambang Wuryanto said his team and the government would discuss the final draft of the criminal code bill on November 21-22, 2022.
ALFITRIA NEFI PRATIWI
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