Crackdown on laser discs questioned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An operation against uncensored laser discs,
\nproposed to begin later this month, has been received with mixed
\nfeelings by retailers, rental operators and the public.<\/p>\n
Contacted by The Jakarta Post on Saturday, some of the sources
\nhalfheartedly supported the plan with weak arguments, while
\nothers questioned possible reasons behind the policy.<\/p>\n
Most of the sources believe that the policy, to be followed
\nwith a massive operation to seize uncensored laser discs after
\nthe April 28 deadline, will cause a significant drop in the
\nbusiness for several months.<\/p>\n
Hendrick from the Disc Tara store, one of Jakarta's biggest
\nlaser disc shops, with a number of outlets in the city, said,
\n\"Although it will severely affect our earnings, we have nothing
\nto complain about, as long as the authorities do their work
\nproperly and regularly.\"<\/p>\n
An executive of a laser disc rental store and shop on Jl. Haji
\nAgus Salim in Central Jakarta questioned the authorities' plan
\nand hoped the authorities would review the policy.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion, it doesn't make sense, except to push people
\nto do illegal things, such as selling or renting the laser discs
\nillegally,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to the plan, the City Film Control Agency will
\nlaunch a massive operation against all uncensored laser discs,
\nmostly foreign movies, at all 154 legal laser disc and video
\nstores in and around the city.<\/p>\n
Head of the agency, Semyon Sinulingga, has also indicated that
\nthe operation can be extended to residential houses believed to
\nbe keeping or using uncensored laser discs for their own use.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Semyon urged city residents
\nto register their laser discs at the city office of trade
\naffairs, in order to classify their categories for viewers.<\/p>\n
\"If they fail to meet the deadline we'll launch on-the-spot
\nchecks on the laser discs,\" said Semyon, who is also head of the
\ncity's chapter of the Ministry of Information.<\/p>\n
Each laser disc film title will be carefully studied by
\nmembers of the Film Censorship Institute, formerly called the
\nFilm Censorship Board, before deciding whether or not the film
\ncan be watched.<\/p>\n
Films passing censorship will be classified into three
\ncategories, which are, 17 years of age and over, parental
\nguidance recommended and general.<\/p>\n
Data at Semyon's office shows that, as of last week, a total
\nof 364 film titles have been submitted to the institute for
\ncensorship. Of that number, 230 titles have passed censorship.<\/p>\n
The 364 titles represent a total of 42,675 copies currently
\ndistributed at the city's laser disc retailers and rental stores.<\/p>\n
Currently, laser discs are sold at between Rp 100,000 and Rp
\n200,000 (US$45 and $90) each and rented at between Rp 5,000 and
\nRp 10,000 each.<\/p>\n
People found guilty of possessing uncensored laser discs will
\nface a maximum of five years imprisonment or be fined Rp 50
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Affandi, 46, a laser disc collector and regular customer of
\nrental stores, said \"I'd like to suggest that the government
\ndrop this idea because their reason doesn't make sense even to
\nlow-educated people.\"<\/p>\n
According to Semyon, the censorship is expected to protect the
\npublic from any negative impact which may arise from the discs,
\nwhich are not in line with the guidelines and objectives of the
\ncountry's film industry.<\/p>\n
The censorship is also expected to maintain the cultural
\nvalues of the nation, as well as monitor the community's
\nappreciation of films being circulated.<\/p>\n
Affandi replied: \"Please tell me a single, positive impact, if
\nany, that local films have given audiences.\"<\/p>\n
\"The only thing I know is that the films only stop people from
\nbroadening their creativity,\" he said. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/crackdown-on-laser-discs-questioned-1447893297",
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