Bureaucrat to chair new telecom watchdog<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The director general of telecommunications has appointed himself
\nhead of an \"independent\" regulatory body to supervise and settle
\ndisputes in the telecommunications industry after criticisms of
\nbias by the directorate.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Transportation (which covers telecommunications)
\npost and telecommunications director general Djamhari Sirat told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the agency would be launched
\nin the third quarter of the year and \"is to be headed by myself\".<\/p>\n
Djamhari is also a commissioner at PT Telkom.<\/p>\n
\"The nature of the agency is an independent institution, which
\nis capable of being fair in solving disputes in the
\ntelecommunications sector.\"<\/p>\n
Djamhari said he would chair the agency because the scope of
\nwork was related to the affairs handled by his office.<\/p>\n
Telecommunications industry expert Roy Suryo said any decision
\nto appoint a bureaucrat as the head of the agency was a backward
\nstep for the country's telecommunications industry.<\/p>\n
Roy said Djamhari had violated Law No. 36\/1999 on
\nTelecommunications which stated, in article 5, that to ensure
\nfair practices the independent regulatory agency should consist
\nonly of telecommunications associations and experts.<\/p>\n
The appointment of chairman should be based on recommendations
\nfrom associations and experts, not by the government.<\/p>\n
Roy doubted Djamhari could perform independently as he was
\nstill a commissioner at state-owned telecommunications giant PT
\nTelkom.<\/p>\n
\"Just imagine what will happen if there is a dispute between
\nTelkom and Indosat (another state-owned telecommunications firm).
\nWho will guarantee that Djamhari, as a commissioner of Telkom,
\ncan solve the dispute fairly?\" Roy said.<\/p>\n
Telecommunications players have long demanded the government
\nform an independent regulatory body as stipulated in the
\nTelecommunications Law.<\/p>\n
Analysts say the new agency is needed as the directorate
\ngeneral has failed to be independent.<\/p>\n
The body was also needed to supervise the country's
\ntelecommunications sector, which is set to be fully liberalized
\nin 2003. Telkom and Indosat will be able to enter the local, long
\ndistance and international call markets.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bureaucrat-to-chair-new-telecom-watchdog-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}