The 2015 International Partnership Mission to Indonesia (IPMI) has released its Observations and Recommendations, including a detailed list of suggested measures to protect freedom of expression in the country. The Observations and Recommendations focus on challenges faced by local and foreign journalists, legal and regulatory threats to freedom of expression, and Indonesia’s continuing climate of impunity for attacks against journalists and media workers.
Click here to read the Recommendations
“There has been little demonstrable progress following the recommendations offered by the mission a year ago, despite significant interventions by local civil society organisations”, the mission said. “The government of President Widodo should do moreto advance media freedom and protect journalists.”
Among the IPMI’s main recommendations are:
• The order opening Papua to foreign journalists should be formalised in writing and measures should be taken to stem continuing resistance to international access.
• Defamation should be decriminalised.
• Invasive web filtering and surveillance practices should be ended.
• The government should develop a plan to promote journalists’ safety.
• The government should reopen investigations into unsolved journalistkillings and commit to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
• The National Police shouldestablish a formal procedure for investigating allegations of police violenceagainst the media.
In the course of its five-day mission in November 2015, the IPMI travelled to Makassar (South Sulawesi), Jayapura (Papua) and the capital, Jakarta. It met with journalists and civil society representatives, as well as LuhutPandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, and Fransiscus Mote, spokesman for the Papuan governor’s office.
For further information, please contact:
Michael Karanicolas
Senior Legal Officer
Centre for Law and Democracy
Email: michael@law-democracy.org
+1 902 448 5290
www.law-democracy.org
twitter: @law_democracy
