Observers label broadcasting bill burdensome<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An expert on mass communication branded the
\nbroadcasting bill currently being deliberated by the House of
\nRepresentatives as too great a burden on private television
\nstations.<\/p>\n
M. Budyatna, dean of the University of Indonesia's School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences, told a discussion at the Institute
\nfor Studies on the Free Flow of Information that the bill sets
\ntoo many tasks for broadcasters, especially television stations.<\/p>\n
Article 5 of the government-sponsored bill, for instance, says
\ntelevision stations are responsible for educating, disseminating
\nreligious teachings, as well as entertaining viewers.<\/p>\n
\"That's too much. Television stations shouldn't be burdened
\nwith the tasks of preachers, teachers and entertainers,\" Budyatna
\nsaid. \"Television stations are not so superior, that we can
\ninflict on them so many burdens.\"<\/p>\n
Budyatna pointed out at Saturday's seminar that many other
\ncountries treat television as merely a source of commercial
\nentertainment.<\/p>\n
\"If the government wants television to act as a facility for
\npublic education, fine, because the existing educational
\nfacilities, especially in remote areas, are still poor,\" he said.
\n\"But this particular duty should be considered complete once our
\neducational system improves.\"<\/p>\n
Budyatna said the many impositions and restrictions put
\ntelevision stations at risk.<\/p>\n
\"A television station can be banned if it fails to meet
\ncertain duties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Other speakers joined Budyatna in criticizing the bill. M.
\nIhsan Lolemba, news editor at Trijaya radio, criticized the
\ngovernment policy stipulating that private radio stations relay
\nstate news programs as many as 13 times a day.<\/p>\n
Legislator Marcel Beding listed contentious articles in the
\nbill, including one which requires television stations to dub all
\nforeign films into Indonesian.<\/p>\n
\"There are too many controversial articles in the bill. It
\ndoes not deserve to be discussed by the House at all,\" charged
\nMarcel. He also sits on House Commission I overseeing
\ninformation, security and political affairs.<\/p>\n
\"Despite 18 years of preparation on the part of the
\ngovernment, this bill still contains illogical rulings,\" Marcel
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said 22 of the 58 articles will have to be supplemented
\nwith government directives in order to be implemented.<\/p>\n
\"If such a bill is passed, then it means that the House has
\nonly stamped a government regulation, not formed a law,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A special House team will be established on July 1 to study
\nthe bill.<\/p>\n
\"I can't imagine how much time the team will need to discuss
\nthe bill,\" Marcel said.<\/p>\n
One of the bill's drafters, Bambang Wahyudi from the state-run
\ntelevision station TVRI, missed the information institute's
\ndiscussion.<\/p>\n
The institute was established shortly after three leading
\npublications, Tempo, Editor and Detik weeklies, were banned by
\nthe government in 1994.<\/p>\n
Noted journalists Goenawan Mohamad, Aristides Katoppo, and
\npolitical observer Mochtar Pabottingi are among the founders of
\nthe institute. (01)<\/p>",
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