PWI stresses press freedom in Indonesia never harm anybody


Jambi (Antara News) - Indonesian Journalists` Association (PWI) chairman Tarman Azzam said press freedom would never harm any body in Indonesia, including the government.

"In fact, press freedom in Indonesia even encourages the government always to do what is best," Tarman said in a panel discussion organized by PWI`s Jambi chapter in cooperation with EC Indonesia-Flegt Support Project in Jambi, Saturday.

The theme of the panel discussion was "Building data and information sharing strategy for publication in the framework of forest management transparancy."

Tarman further stressed that Indonesian press freedom did not aim to find out the mistakes of other people or the government, but it would on the other hand help the government to get more information to be conveyed by the press to the public.

At the time when the press unveiled a case which really put the public and state in greater losses, it would really be a meaningful input for the government or law enforcement authorities.

"The United States has provided press freedom to mass media in that country since the 1700s. This is remarkable but the US also paid a high price for it. That country never curbs press freedom," he said.

There was no need to be afraid of press freedom in Indonesia and neither should it be misunderstood as something always obstrcuting government policies, Tarman said.(*)