PROTECTION OF PRESS FREEDOM MANIFESTATION OF PEOPLE'S SOVEREIGNTY: EXPERT

Padang, W Sumatra, Jan 23 (ANTARA) - The legal protection of press freedom in Indonesia is a manifestation of the people's sovereignty, a law professor said.

One of the features of the people's sovereignty was freedom of the press, Prof Dr Yuliandri of Padang-based Andalas University (Unand) said here on Saturday.

The press was an important element to create a democratic community, particularly in expressing thoughts and views as laid down in article 28 of the 1945 Constitution, he said.

To implement the article, the government was protecting freedom of the press because it was a manifestation of human rights to express thoughts and views according to one's conscience as well as to get information, he said.

The need to protect freedom of the press was also inseparable from the role of the press in keeping the world order based on freedom, eternal peace and social justice, he said.

For journalists, the press law was of great significance because it served as legal guarantee to perform journalistic duties, he said.

Given the guarantee, independence and press freedom were the right of each citizen and therefore, there was no reason for the government to censor, shut down and ban any broadcast and publication, he said.