An alliance of three  media workers' groups yesterday called on legislators to delay the legalization of a secret service bill introduced in 2002 since some of its articles threaten press freedom.

“After considering the consequences of the bill on press freedom in Indonesia, we found some basic problems in it,” Nezar Patria, who heads the alliance, said at a press conference in Jakarta.

The secret service’s authority to intercept without the court’s permission threatens press freedom because the secret service can interfere with communication between media workers and their sources that may be confidential, he added.

“The article gives a chance to the secret service to misuse its authority to keep an eye on journalists,” he said.

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