"Press freedom is essentially a human right. Therefore, both the government and society must continue to encourage a press ecosystem that is free, independent, and remains a voice for the public interest, while also promoting human rights and democracy in Indonesia," Suwarta stated here while participating in a fun walk with media workers and the public to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2026 on Sunday.
According to him, press freedom in Indonesia is continuing to improve amid the extraordinary explosion of information across various platforms. In such a situation, he said, the press must ensure continuous quality improvement.
"We hope mainstream media, which has long operated under strict journalistic standards, will continue to grow with even better quality. The emergence of many new forms of media, which cannot be avoided, should serve as encouragement for the press to keep improving its quality," he explained.
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He also stressed that the Ministry of Human Rights is committed to ensuring that press freedom in Indonesia continues to grow. A free, healthy, and high-quality press, he said, will flourish within an ecosystem that respects human rights.
"If our human rights conditions improve, then automatically our press freedom will also improve. President Prabowo’s administration, which provides important space for the development of human rights, has created room for press freedom. There should be no doubt about that," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Press Council Chair Komaruddin Hidayat said the fun walk with members of the press served as a momentum to strengthen commitment to upholding journalistic principles.
"This fun walk involving press members and the Press Council creates an atmosphere of solidarity, warmth, and closeness, as well as a commitment that the press will continue to uphold journalistic principles, objectivity, professionalism, and ethics," Hidayat stated.
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Translator: Fianda, Kenzu
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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