Indonesian Government Urged to Protect Student Journalists and Press Freedom

Indonesian Government Urged to Protect Student Journalists and Press Freedom
© Brian Wangenheim. May 2, 2020 via Unsplash

03-06-2023

Eliana Mazzella

South East Asia and Pacific Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence 

Human Rights Watch has called on the Indonesian government to take action in support of university media outlets and the rights of student journalists. The organization has urged the government to back the efforts of the National Press Council in mediating disputes between these outlets and school authorities.

In a week-long conference held in Solo, Central Java, over 150 college journalists gathered to discuss the challenges they face, including intimidation, attacks, and forced closures of university media. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the urgent need for government intervention to address these issues (Human Rights Watch, 2023).

The Indonesian Student Press Association has recorded alarming statistics, revealing 48 cases of university administrators intimidating or shutting down student media outlets between 2020 and 2021 (Human Rights Watch, 2023). These cases are part of a broader pattern of press-related abuses, which include threats, physical assault, closure of media outlets, and even the expulsion of students due to their journalism work. Many Indonesian universities boast student media outlets, ranging from newspapers and magazines to online news sites. These outlets have often clashed with university administrations when uncovering and reporting on sensitive issues such as corruption, malfeasance, and sexual misconduct within their institutions (IFJ, 2023).

A key challenge lies in the fact that student media operates under the purview of their educational institutions, leaving them vulnerable to external pressure and limitations on their freedom of the press. The current Press Council system does not provide sufficient protection for these student media outlets. The National Police and the Press Council had reached an agreement in 2017 to refer defamation cases involving the media to the Council for mediation. However, when it comes to criminal defamation cases involving student journalists, local police stations handle them directly, often influenced by powerful local figures who press charges against student publications (Human Rights Watch, 2023).

Highlighting specific cases, Human Rights Watch cites the closure of the Suara USU newsroom in 2019 following the circulation of a lesbian love story. Similarly, the Lintas student magazine was shut down in 2022 after documenting cases of sexual assault on campus. These incidents underscore the urgent need for protections and support for student journalists.

In response, Human Rights Watch calls on the National Press Council to engage with the National Police, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The aim is to establish an agreement that directs all college media disputes to be mediated by the Press Council, ensuring impartiality and safeguarding press freedom. Recognizing the historical significance of student journalism in Indonesia, with several of the country's founders having been student journalists themselves, Human Rights Watch emphasizes the importance of a meaningful government response. They urge key government agencies and the Press Council to establish a task force to protect student journalists and their publications (Human Rights Watch, 2023).

By taking these steps, the Indonesian government can demonstrate its commitment to press freedom, protect the rights of student journalists, and preserve the crucial role of student journalism in the country's society and democracy.

Sources and further readings:

Human Rights Watch (May 22, 2023) Indonesia: Student Media at Risk. Retrieved on June 3, 2023 from https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/22/indonesia-student-media-risk 

International Federation of Journalists (May 25, 2023) Indonesia: Attacks against student journalists intensify. Retrieved on June 3, 2023 from https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/indonesia-attacks-against-student-journalists-intensify