On Tuesday (September 5), the Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University welcomed a guest from Sydney, Australia: Jim Nolan. Jim Nolan is a senior attorney and advisor to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia Pacific. The IFJ is an organization that works through a global network to defend press freedom and protect journalists. He delivered a presentation on the topic “Press Freedom and Democracy in Southeast Asia: A Snapshot of the Legal Framework.”
In his presentation, Nolan noted a trend toward the weakening of legal protections for press freedom in Southeast Asia, coinciding with a decline in the quality of democracy in the region. The pressures occurring in a number of these countries include a large number of cases of media suppression, systematic cyberattacks, disinformation and misinformation, the imprisonment of journalists, and even acts of violence targeting journalists or media personnel who report critically on the government.
Nolan revealed that press freedom in Indonesia has been eroding alongside legislation targeting journalists, such as the numerous cases involving cyber defamation or libel under the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE Law). Many legal cases under the ITE Law demonstrate the misuse of regulations to silence those who speak the truth. Furthermore, regarding the recently enacted Revised Criminal Code (RKUHP), Nolan observed that its criminal law framework falls far short of international human rights standards and has the potential to criminalize the press. Another notable point was that, in the 34-page slide presentation, Nolan detailed the current state of press freedom in 10 Southeast Asian countries.
The students were enthusiastic about asking questions and sharing their opinions, and some of them even continued the discussion over lunch. Nolan was very pleased to have the opportunity to share his thoughts at UGM. It was an experience he will never forget, as this was the first law school in Indonesia to invite him to lead a discussion and teach.
The Faculty of Law at UGM frequently hosts guest lectures by inviting academics and practitioners, both nationally and internationally. This initiative aims to broaden students’ global perspectives, introduce them to cultural diversity, enhance the quality of teaching, and foster national and international networks and connections. These public lectures are also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 4—Quality Education—and Goal 17—Partnerships for the Goals.
