The participants in the conference Open Skies: Towards an Open Society, meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, 26-28 June 1996:
4 August 2003 11:32 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Record their belief that free and independent news media are a key element in building and maintaining a peaceful, tolerant, open, productive and democratic society;Note the crucial role played by ethical and skilled journalists who are able to discharge their duties free from repression and economic pressures; Call on the Government of Indonesia to repeal all laws which restrict freedom of expression and freedom of association; Urge the Government of Indonesia to put in place a legal framework for media freedom in line with the principles of the Indonesian Constitution; and in particular to re-examine the broadcasting bill at present before the Parliament in a way which enhances the ability of the private sector broadcast media to provide quality news and current affairs programmes, and to repeal the measures which require the registration of publications; Call on the Government of Indonesia to release from prison the four jailed media workers, Ahmad Taufik, Eko Maryadi, Tri Agus Susanto Siswowihardjo and Danang Kukuh Wardoyo; Urge the Government of Indonesia to recognise the exist of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the right of its members to associate; Call on news media employers to employ journalists on the basis of their skills and abilities and not by reason of their organization, and call on the Government and PWI to refrain from placing any pressure on employers designed to influence their hiring policies; Express their support for AJI and urge it to continue its campaign for freedom of expression and freedom of association and its role in developing the skills, standards and ethical awareness of journalists; Recommend that AJI forms closer links with the Indonesian trade union movement, and call on the Government to refrain from placing any obstacles in the path of such freedom of association; Urges greater solidarity between journalist organizations in the South-East Asia region; Calls on all IFJ unions to assist and co-operate with AJI by way of closer relations and professional development and training; Urge the IFJ to continue to follow the recommendations set out in the report Indonesia: Journalism Out of the Shadows (1995); Call on the Government of the Philippines to investigate the killing of journalists and urge the IFJ to hold an international conference in Manila aimed at strengthening media co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region; Urge the Government of Cambodia to investigate and pursue the murder of editor Thun Burly, the fourth death of journalists who have written anti-government stories, and deplore the inevitable self-censorship and reduction of freedom of expression which such events cause; Urge the Cambodian judicial authorities to refrain from imprisoning journalists for writing articles in which opinions are expressed.
