Govt denies pulling plug on TV show<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus denied
\nyesterday speculation that he ordered the private Indosiar TV
\nstation to abruptly halt a political talk show on freedom of
\nexpression on Monday night.<\/p>\n
"No one from my ministry made any call to Indosiar," Yunus
\ntold reporters shortly before attending a Cabinet meeting at Bina
\nGraha presidential office.<\/p>\n
"Just ask the station. It was a technical problem."<\/p>\n
Dialog Aktual went off the air after only 15 minutes of its
\nscheduled one-hour broadcast as the hosts and guests attacked the
\ngovernment of President B.J. Habibie for tampering with
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
The prerecorded weekly program, jointly hosted by social
\ncommentator Wimar Witoelar and economist Sjahrir, had as its
\ntopic the government's newly issued regulation on freedom of
\nexpression.<\/p>\n
Guests were constitutional expert Dimyati Hartono, Indria
\nSamego of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and economist
\nChatib Basri. Minister of Justice Muladi turned down Wimar's
\noffer to take part in the show.<\/p>\n
Indosiar public relations manager Andreas Ambessa said the
\nprogram had to be stopped because there was a problem with the
\nmaster tape of the recording.<\/p>\n
"Since the economic crisis, we've been using the same tape
\nover and over," he said Tuesday. He added the station would not
\nhave buckled under pressure from the government if there had been
\na call.<\/p>\n
Wimar found it hard to accept Indosiar's explanation.<\/p>\n
"As far as I know, the station would have checked the cassette
\n-- its editorial content and technical aspects. It's the standard
\noperational procedure," Wimar told The Jakarta Post Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"Given the popularity of the program, it would be good if the
\nprogram is aired again, this time live." (prb\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-denies-pulling-plug-on-tv-show-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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