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Facing SLAPP in Indonesia: A Human Rights Approach to Judicial Measures Silencing Journalists

Klefbom, Jonatan LU (2022) JURM02 20221
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The UN Human Rights Council has several times addressed the expanding issue of judicial harassments against journalists around the world. In a functioning democracy, it is important to protect the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. The Council has emphasized that laws on defamation are used to intimidate public debate and public scrutiny. Generally, the term for this method is strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP).

The thesis uses Indonesia as a case study to show how SLAPPs are used to intimidate journalists and what consequences it has on the press environment. Southeast Asia is a global hotspot for these litigations and for the last decade there has been a worrying trend in Indonesia with constantly... (More)
The UN Human Rights Council has several times addressed the expanding issue of judicial harassments against journalists around the world. In a functioning democracy, it is important to protect the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. The Council has emphasized that laws on defamation are used to intimidate public debate and public scrutiny. Generally, the term for this method is strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP).

The thesis uses Indonesia as a case study to show how SLAPPs are used to intimidate journalists and what consequences it has on the press environment. Southeast Asia is a global hotspot for these litigations and for the last decade there has been a worrying trend in Indonesia with constantly increasing numbers. The aim is to elaborate on the main reasons for SLAPPs against journalists in Indonesia and whether the situation complies with the country’s international human rights obligations under article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Indonesian Press Law establishes a self-regulatory system to handle press disputes, which aims to avoid public court procedures for journalistic activities. However, due to legal uncertainty in case law, flexible formulations, and corruption, the lower courts sometimes disregard these protective mechanisms. Instead, journalists are judged under the general criminal provisions in the Indonesian Penal Code that have been shaped under authoritarian rule for the whole 20th century. In addition, an internet law from 2008 with heavy sanctions has shown to have severe consequences for online journalism.

The arbitrary use of criminal provisions against journalists in the country is a serious threat to the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. This is a violation of the right constituted in article 19 of the ICCPR. In addition, civil lawsuits on dubious grounds and with high claims of damages are constantly targeting Indonesian journalists, often without intervention by the Police or the courts. These litigations risk a financial collapse for press corporations and create self-censorship in the media landscape. Therefore, Indonesia also fails in its duty to protect individuals covered by the right in ICCPR from abuses by other private actors. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
FN:s råd för mänskliga rättigheter har flera gånger uppmärksammat det växande problemet med juridiska trakasserier mot journalister i världen. I ett fungerande demokratiskt samhälle är det viktigt att skydda så väl yttrande- som pressfrihet. Rådet har betonat att regler kring ärekränkning utnyttjas för att tysta ner den offentlig debatten och granskningen av makten. Vanligtvis går den här bestraffande metoden under benämningen SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation).

Uppsatsen använder Indonesien som en fallstudie för att synliggöra hur SLAPPs används för att tysta journalister och hur detta påverkar medielandskapet. Sydostasien har blivit ett centrum för sådana yttrandefrihetskränkningar och under det senaste årtiondet... (More)
FN:s råd för mänskliga rättigheter har flera gånger uppmärksammat det växande problemet med juridiska trakasserier mot journalister i världen. I ett fungerande demokratiskt samhälle är det viktigt att skydda så väl yttrande- som pressfrihet. Rådet har betonat att regler kring ärekränkning utnyttjas för att tysta ner den offentlig debatten och granskningen av makten. Vanligtvis går den här bestraffande metoden under benämningen SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation).

Uppsatsen använder Indonesien som en fallstudie för att synliggöra hur SLAPPs används för att tysta journalister och hur detta påverkar medielandskapet. Sydostasien har blivit ett centrum för sådana yttrandefrihetskränkningar och under det senaste årtiondet har Indonesien upplevt en alarmerande trend där antalet SLAPPs konstant ökar. Syftet med uppsatsen är att utreda vilka som är de huvudsakliga orsakerna till SLAPPs mot journalister och huruvida Indonesien uppfyller sina internationella åtagande om mänskliga rättigheter i artikel 19 av den internationella konventionen om medborgerliga och politiska rättigheter (ICCPR).

Den indonesiska presslagen upprättar ett självsanerande system för att hantera pressdispyter och syftar till att undvika allmänna rättsliga processer mot journalister. Men på grund av osäkerhet i rättspraxis, diffusa formuleringar och korruption så åsidosätter ibland de lägre domstolarna dessa skyddsmekanismer. I stället används den allmänna brottslagstiftningen vid åtal av journalister som har formats under hela 1900-talet av auktoritära styren. Dessutom har en internetlag från 2008 med höga straffvärden visats sig skapa allvarliga konsekvenser för journalister som publicerar online.

Det godtyckliga användandet av brottslagstiftning mot journalister i landet är ett hot mot yttrande- och pressfriheten. Detta agerande strider mot rättigheten stadgad i artikel 19 i ICCPR. Dessutom riktas ständigt legala processer mot journalister på tvivelaktiga grunder och med höga skadeståndsbelopp, ofta helt utan ingripande av vare sig polis eller domstol. Dessa stämningar riskerar konkurs för mediabolagen och skapar självcensur inom presskåren. Indonesien misslyckas därför även i sin uppgift att skydda individer som omfattas av rättigheten i ICCPR från angrepp av andra privata aktörer. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Klefbom, Jonatan LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20221
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
Freedom of expression, Freedom of the press, International Human Rights Law, Journalists, SLAPP, Indonesia.
language
English
id
9080668
date added to LUP
2022-06-22 09:20:54
date last changed
2022-06-22 09:20:54
@misc{9080668,
  abstract     = {{The UN Human Rights Council has several times addressed the expanding issue of judicial harassments against journalists around the world. In a functioning democracy, it is important to protect the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. The Council has emphasized that laws on defamation are used to intimidate public debate and public scrutiny. Generally, the term for this method is strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP).

The thesis uses Indonesia as a case study to show how SLAPPs are used to intimidate journalists and what consequences it has on the press environment. Southeast Asia is a global hotspot for these litigations and for the last decade there has been a worrying trend in Indonesia with constantly increasing numbers. The aim is to elaborate on the main reasons for SLAPPs against journalists in Indonesia and whether the situation complies with the country’s international human rights obligations under article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Indonesian Press Law establishes a self-regulatory system to handle press disputes, which aims to avoid public court procedures for journalistic activities. However, due to legal uncertainty in case law, flexible formulations, and corruption, the lower courts sometimes disregard these protective mechanisms. Instead, journalists are judged under the general criminal provisions in the Indonesian Penal Code that have been shaped under authoritarian rule for the whole 20th century. In addition, an internet law from 2008 with heavy sanctions has shown to have severe consequences for online journalism. 

The arbitrary use of criminal provisions against journalists in the country is a serious threat to the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. This is a violation of the right constituted in article 19 of the ICCPR. In addition, civil lawsuits on dubious grounds and with high claims of damages are constantly targeting Indonesian journalists, often without intervention by the Police or the courts. These litigations risk a financial collapse for press corporations and create self-censorship in the media landscape. Therefore, Indonesia also fails in its duty to protect individuals covered by the right in ICCPR from abuses by other private actors.}},
  author       = {{Klefbom, Jonatan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Facing SLAPP in Indonesia: A Human Rights Approach to Judicial Measures Silencing Journalists}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}