Broadcasting regulations put on hold<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a decision eliciting jeers and cheers from the gallery, the
\ngovernment and the House of Representatives agreed on Monday to
\npostpone the implementation of the much-criticized government
\nregulations on broadcasting.<\/p>\n
They settled on a timetable -- over the next two months -- to
\namend some articles in Law No. 32\/2002 on Broadcasting, the
\nambiguity of which have been blamed for the controversy.<\/p>\n
The postponement came after staunch criticism over four
\nregulations, issued on Nov. 16, which media analysts and
\nlawmakers have criticized as a return to the suppression of press
\nfreedom and a violation of the broadcasting law.<\/p>\n
Press activists and members of the Indonesian Broadcasting
\nCommission (KPI), who observed intently during the hearing
\nbetween information minister Sofyan Djalil and House Commission I
\non information and defense, immediately welcomed the decision.<\/p>\n
House members had taken turns lambasting the minister and the
\nPresident for issuing the regulations, with some calling for a
\nflat revocation of all the regulations.<\/p>\n
The regulations are No. 49\/2005 on foreign broadcasters, No.
\n50\/2005 on private broadcasters, No. 51\/2005 on community
\nbroadcasters and No. 52\/2005 on foreign broadcasters.<\/p>\n
Seemingly cornered, minister Sofyan said the regulations were
\ndrafted by his predecessor Syamsul Ma'arif and he only complied
\nwith a Constitutional Court verdict over a contentious article in
\nthe broadcasting law.<\/p>\n
Article 33 of the broadcasting law says that licensing-related
\nissues are determined by the \"state\" through the KPI.<\/p>\n
The word \"state\" had been self-claimed by both the information
\nministry and the KPI, delaying the issuance of government
\nregulations to implement the law for almost a year.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court, claimed Sofyan, had ruled in favor
\nof the government by stating that it does have the power to
\nregulate broadcasting issues.<\/p>\n
House members, some of whom were directly involved in the
\ndeliberation and the enactment of the historic law, disputed the
\nverdict.<\/p>\n
They said it was the government that would set the rules, but
\nthat did not mean that it could take over the power that the
\nbroadcasting law had constitutionally embedded in the KPI.<\/p>\n
All in all, the lawmakers admitted the broadcasting law was
\nprone to multiple interpretations due to the fact that, coupled
\nwith political compromises, it was deliberated in haste.<\/p>\n
Revising the law, House members agreed on Monday, should be
\nconducted with democracy in mind, where information affairs
\nshould be left to the public -- in this case by a quasi-state
\ninstitution such as the KPI.<\/p>\n
The revision process is expected to include the government,
\nthe House, the KPI, press experts as well as several former
\nlawmakers who deliberated on the bill.<\/p>\n
In the hearing's conclusion, the House told the government to
\ncompletely lift the current night time ban, which applies to all
\nlocal broadcasters. That contentious ministerial decision was
\nmade several months ago, ostensibly to comply with the so-called
\ncampaign to conserve energy.<\/p>\n
The House also called on the government to submit by the end
\nof next month, at the latest, a list of questions for the free
\naccess to public information bill to start the deliberation
\nprocess.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/broadcasting-regulations-put-on-hold-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}