House out to restrict foreign program relays<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives is steadfast in restricting local
\nradio and television channels in their regular relays of foreign
\nbroadcasts, but agreed on Thursday to grant a two-year grace
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
The final draft of the broadcasting bill states that only
\nsports and entertainment events will be exempted from the ruling.<\/p>\n
\"We are not banning the practice, only setting a limit so
\nthere will be no regular programs relayed from foreign
\nbroadcasters,\" member of the House of Representatives special
\ncommittee deliberating the bill Amin Said Husni said.<\/p>\n
The transmission of regular programs from foreign broadcasters
\nhas become common here. For example, Elshinta private radio
\nstation airs a live Indonesian-language news program broadcast by
\nLondon-based BBC World Service twice a day, at 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
New TV channel Global is another target of the bill as most of
\nits programs are produced by Singapore-based MTV.<\/p>\n
The bill also seeks a ban on news, violent sports and other
\nprograms that are not considered to be in line with the country's
\nmoral values.<\/p>\n
Some local TV channels have for the past year aired foreign-
\nproduced fighting contests or an Indonesian edition of the same.<\/p>\n
Amin said the limitation was intended to limit foreign
\ninformation and propaganda in influencing the country's citizens.<\/p>\n
The ruling, sponsored by the House, has sparked concern within
\nthe media community.<\/p>\n
British Ambassador to Indonesia Richard Gozney even paid a
\nvisit to see State Minister of Information and Communication
\nSyamsul Muarif to ask about the proposal.<\/p>\n
\"The ambassador questioned the decision; as it did not come
\nfrom the government, I asked legislators to explain it to Mr.
\nGozney,\" Syamsul told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Syamsul said he had met with Gozney on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The minister deemed the proposal unnecessary because most
\nradio and television stations would find loopholes to get round
\nthe restrictions.<\/p>\n
\"For example, they could air a program 30 minutes after it had
\nbeen broadcast, which means they would not have relayed it
\ndirectly, so, according to the regulations, that would be OK,\"
\nSyamsul said.<\/p>\n
He added that the government would try to persuade legislators
\nto revise the proposed ruling.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-out-to-restrict-foreign-program-relays-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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