ID :
64605
Mon, 06/08/2009 - 08:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64605
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VICE PRESIDENT MAINTAINS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Jakarta, June 7 (ANTARA) - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla has said that he would continue guaranteeing freedom of the press and expression.
"I always guarantee the freedom of the press and expression," Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said here on Sunday prior to watching a film entitled "Presidential Broker" at EX Plaza theater.
Kalla said the TV program called `The Dream Republic' could become an inspiration for the nation.
"I have long appreciated the parody of the `Dream Republic'. Sometimes critics are indeed harsh," he said.
According to Jusuf Kalla, criticisms are still necessary, without them, power will become authoritarian.
"Criticisms are still unpleasant although with humor, but the result will be better than no criticism at all," the vice president.
He also explained the importance of press freedom and political parties in a democratic era. Therefore, press freedom is absolutely necessary, he said.
"The press is a crucial element in democracy, and so are political parties," the vice president said.
Vice President Kalla said a person who wrote an e-mail message or letter to newspapers, could actually not be jailed.
Recently, Prita Mulyasari (32), a housewife, had been jailed after Omni International Hospital in Tangerang, Banten, reported her following her e-mail to her friends expressing her disappointment about the hospital's alleged unsatisfactory services to her as a paient.
The hospital had considered it as a defamation to the hospital. She was held based on Law Number 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions.
Following calls from several quarters, including Vice President Jusuf Kalla and presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, Prita was finally released but still under house arrest.
She had been held since August 15, 2009 and threatened with six years imprisonment.
The case had also drawn reaction from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who had called on the relevant law enforcers concerned to use their heart and sense of justice in handling it.
Presidential spokesman Andi Mallrangeng told newsmen that the President's call was not an intervention but merely his view on the case.
President Yudhoyono said the case of Prita Mulyasari could be settled out of court based on humanitarian considerations.***1***
"I always guarantee the freedom of the press and expression," Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said here on Sunday prior to watching a film entitled "Presidential Broker" at EX Plaza theater.
Kalla said the TV program called `The Dream Republic' could become an inspiration for the nation.
"I have long appreciated the parody of the `Dream Republic'. Sometimes critics are indeed harsh," he said.
According to Jusuf Kalla, criticisms are still necessary, without them, power will become authoritarian.
"Criticisms are still unpleasant although with humor, but the result will be better than no criticism at all," the vice president.
He also explained the importance of press freedom and political parties in a democratic era. Therefore, press freedom is absolutely necessary, he said.
"The press is a crucial element in democracy, and so are political parties," the vice president said.
Vice President Kalla said a person who wrote an e-mail message or letter to newspapers, could actually not be jailed.
Recently, Prita Mulyasari (32), a housewife, had been jailed after Omni International Hospital in Tangerang, Banten, reported her following her e-mail to her friends expressing her disappointment about the hospital's alleged unsatisfactory services to her as a paient.
The hospital had considered it as a defamation to the hospital. She was held based on Law Number 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions.
Following calls from several quarters, including Vice President Jusuf Kalla and presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, Prita was finally released but still under house arrest.
She had been held since August 15, 2009 and threatened with six years imprisonment.
The case had also drawn reaction from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who had called on the relevant law enforcers concerned to use their heart and sense of justice in handling it.
Presidential spokesman Andi Mallrangeng told newsmen that the President's call was not an intervention but merely his view on the case.
President Yudhoyono said the case of Prita Mulyasari could be settled out of court based on humanitarian considerations.***1***
