Indonesia pushing bill to restrict investigative journalism and increase censorship ‘by any means necessary’: critics

Fatkul Khoir, a lawyer and coordinator at human rights NGO Kontras Surabaya, argued the government was aiming to ensure passage of the Broadcasting Bill before Widodo’s term ends “by any means necessary”.

One of the most contentious clauses seen in a leaked draft of the Broadcast Bill, which is currently tabled for debate in the House of Representatives (DPR), says that electronic and television broadcasts of “exclusive investigative journalism” would be restricted.

“Ultimately, I think, the new law is about safeguarding the interests of the (political) elite. Are there more skeletons in the closet they don’t want us to see?” said Faktul.

Eben Haezer Panca, chairman of the Surabaya chapter of the Independent Journalists’ Alliance, told This Week in Asia, “Trying to restrict investigative journalism strikes at the heart and soul of journalism.”

“Investigative journalists ensured many public scandals in the past, such as the Sambo murder case, were prosecuted transparently through the pressure their work brought on law enforcers.”

Bayu Wardhana, secretary general of AJI, claimed the new law, if passed, would represent “a fresh assault on the spirit of Reformasi”.

“We at AJI unreservedly reject the new the Draft Broadcasting Bill, which we deem to be a regression of democracy,” he said.

Abdul Kharis Al Masyhari, deputy chairman of Commission I of the DPR, defended the bill by claiming its new clauses were “necessary in light of new burgeoning types of mass communication media such as social media and other live-streaming platforms.”

“The old bill only regulated content from terrestrial TV broadcasts, leaving social media and newer platforms virtually without restrictions in airing content that may be unsuitable for children, for