Committee endorses broadcast bill<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After long deliberation, legislators and the government concluded
\non Thursday talks on the broadcast bill and agreed to bring it
\nbefore a plenary meeting on Nov. 25 for endorsement.<\/p>\n
The bill will replace Law No.24\/1997 on broadcasting, which
\nbecame ineffective with the dissolution of the information
\nministry in 1999.<\/p>\n
There have been pros and cons concerning the contents of the
\nlong, overdue bill, with some groups hailing several progressive
\nideas that have been adopted, while others regretted the powerful
\nrole given to the government to regulate broadcasting activities.<\/p>\n
The bill was first submitted by inter-faction legislators on
\nJune 26, 2000, but its deliberation was halted following the
\npolitical bickering that led to the ouster of former president
\nAbdurrahman Wahid in July 2001. Lawmakers resumed its
\ndeliberation last March.<\/p>\n
Compared to Law No.24\/1997, the new broadcasting bill is much
\nmore comprehensive. The bill introduces a new institution, the
\nIndonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), which is expected to
\nfunction as an independent monitoring body.<\/p>\n
The broadcasting commission is designed to represent public
\nparticipation and to accommodate the aspirations of the
\nbroadcasting community.<\/p>\n
This congenial idea is, however, spoiled by a decision from
\nlawmakers to give the government a role in determining
\nregulations on broadcasting.<\/p>\n
Under the new bill, the government would be given the role to
\ntake part in outlining at least 12 regulations through the
\nissuance of government regulations.<\/p>\n
At least three legislators, Djoko Susilo of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN), Bambang Sadono of Golkar and Effendi Choirie
\nof the National Awakening Party (PKB), have openly rejected the
\nclause.<\/p>\n
But their voices were drowned out by the insistence of other
\nlegislators and government officials.<\/p>\n
The major role to be handed to the government has raised
\nconcern among media observers as they said it could be prone to
\nabuse of power by the government.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Communications and Information Syamsul
\nMu'arif denied the speculation on Thursday, saying that the
\ngovernment would only follow the decisions of the KPI.<\/p>\n
\"The government would support KPI's decisions. All government
\nregulations would be prepared by the KPI and the government would
\nact as a facilitator,\" Syamsul said on the sidelines of a
\nmeeting, which was attended by 12 legislators.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chairman of the special House committee for the
\nbroadcasting bill, Paulus Widiyanto, said on Thursday that the
\nsubstance of the bill had been criticized.<\/p>\n
\"This is the best we can do. Those who are not satisfied can
\nsubmit recommendations for the proposed KPI,\" Paulus added.<\/p>\n
The bill stipulates that the KPI has to be established within
\none year after the bill is enacted into law.<\/p>\n
The bill also provides a period of two years and three years
\nfor radio and television stations respectively to make
\nadjustments to rulings in the bill.<\/p>\n
The executive director of the Indonesian Media Law and Policy
\nCenter (IMLPC), Hinca Pandjaitan, said on Thursday that the pros
\nand cons over the endorsement of the broadcasting bill were
\nunavoidable, because the laws were established before the
\nstations.<\/p>\n
\"Whether we like it or not, the bill should be endorsed. All
\nthe critics can submit recommendations for revisions in the
\nfuture,\" Hinca told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Article 57: Penalties<\/p>\n
Five years imprisonment or a Rp 1 billion fine for radio stations
\nand five years imprisonment or a Rp 10 billion fine for
\ntelevision stations, or for anyone who violates:<\/p>\n
1. mandatory share ownership by employees<\/p>\n
2. regulations on cross ownership;<\/p>\n
3. the rule that foreign broadcasts are restricted in Indonesia;<\/p>\n
4. the stipulation that broadcasts must not contain slander,
\nprovocation, violence, pornography, gambling or racism<\/p>\n
5. the stipulation that broadcasts must not disgrace the nation's
\ndignity or disrupt international relations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/committee-endorses-broadcast-bill-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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