KPI rejects broadcasting rules<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sr Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and a number of
\nbroadcasting groups raised their opposition on Tuesday to the
\ndraft of a government regulation on broadcasting, as it would
\nrevive the government's power in the broadcasting sector.<\/p>\n
Saying that the regulation was a set back to the country's
\nfledging democracy, they vowed to press the government to drop
\nseveral contentious articles that threaten the public's right
\nto information.<\/p>\n
The draft is due to be signed before Dec. 28, which is the
\ndeadline for the government to issue implementing regulations
\nfor Law No. 32\/2002 on broadcasting.<\/p>\n
KPI chairman Victor Menayang said their opposition was limited
\nto articles granting the government power to issue and revoke
\nbroadcasting licenses, to impose sanctions as well as to issue
\nministerial regulations on broadcasting, which are all against
\nthe broadcasting law.<\/p>\n
Victor was speaking during a public discussion on the draft,
\nwhich was attended by representatives of the Indonesian Press
\nand Broadcasting Society (MPPI), the Indonesian Television
\nStations Association (ATVSI) and the Telematics Society (Mastel).<\/p>\n
\"We do not oppose all contents of the regulation, but
\nseveral articles that clearly reflect the government's intention
\nto revive Deppen,\" he said, referring to the now-defunct
\ninformation ministry.<\/p>\n
The ministry was notorious in terms of press freedom as it had
\nthe authority to issue and revoke the licenses of publication and
\nbroadcasting companies.<\/p>\n
During the New Order era, the ministry often revoked the
\nlicenses of both print and electronic media that ran stories
\ndeemed critical of the government's policies.<\/p>\n
Bimo Nugroho, a KPI member, said that the KPI and broadcasting
\ngroups feared that the Office of the State Minister of
\nCommunications and Information would hold excessive power
\nenabling it to \"rule\" the broadcasting sector.<\/p>\n
The power to allocate radio and television frequencies and to
\nissue broadcasting licenses, which is currently in the hands of
\nthe Ministry of Transportation, would all be transferred to the
\ncommunication and information minister's office, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The government has never had a good record in terms of giving
\nlicenses. The process has never been transparent. By giving full
\npower to the office, public interests would be overlooked as the
\ngovernment can never be free of political interests,\" Bimo said.<\/p>\n
He said that one of the consequences, if the government
\ninsisted on approving the draft, was that state-owned television
\nstation TVRI and radio station RRI would never be more
\nindependent.<\/p>\n
Amir Effendy Siregar of the MPPI said that the MPPI and Mastel
\nhad earlier submitted a formal letter of opposition to the draft,
\nboth to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the minister's
\noffice.<\/p>\n
The debate over who has the authority to issue broadcasting
\nlicenses began during the presidency of Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nwith both the government and the KPI stubbornly maintaining their
\nstances.<\/p>\n
The government insisted that it continue to hold the power to
\nrule the broadcasting sector as the broadcasting law does not
\nspecifically grant the KPI the power to do so.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court has ruled that the broadcasting law
\nis in line with the Constitution, but said that the power to
\nissue technical regulations on broadcasting should be given to
\nthe KPI.<\/p>\n
The KPI is expected to ask the Supreme Court for a judicial
\nreview should the government maintain its previous stance and
\npress the House of Representatives to amend the broadcasting law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpi-rejects-broadcasting-rules-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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