TV, radio operators reject bill on broadcasting<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Television and radio broadcasting operators warned on Wednesday
\nthey would go off air if the House of Representatives (DPR) and
\nthe government failed to revise the broadcasting bill currently
\nbeing deliberated.<\/p>\n
During a peaceful rally in front of the House compound, dozens
\nof protesters claimed that the bill was a threat to independent
\nbroadcasting activities which they had been fighting for.<\/p>\n
Among the articles criticized by the protesters was the
\nestablishment of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI)
\nthat would hold the authority to determine program guidelines,
\nimpose sanctions for violations, issue licenses and set a code of
\nconduct for the broadcast community.<\/p>\n
One of the protesters, Sunaryo, said both the government and
\nthe House had the intention of controlling the national broadcast
\ncommunity through regulations, action reminiscent of the days
\nunder Soeharto's New Order.<\/p>\n
The protesters did not say when the plan would materialize.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is home to one state and 10 private television
\nstations and one state and 1,070 private radio stations.<\/p>\n
The off-air threat was earlier issued by the Association of
\nIndonesian National Private Radio.<\/p>\n
Separately on Wednesday, an association of 36 community-based
\nradio operators demanded that the government recognize their
\nexistence separate from the state and commercial stations.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Community-based Radio Network denied the
\ngovernment's accusation that its members' broadcasts could
\njeopardize national unity, saying that people had taken advantage
\nof their services.<\/p>\n
During the protest some of the radio operators from Java,
\nSumatra, and Sulawesi shared their experiences, saying that local
\npeople welcomed the presence of their stations.<\/p>\n
A draft broadcasting bill outlined by the House acknowledges
\nthe community-based broadcasting stations, but the government
\nopposes it on the grounds that it is prone to provocation.<\/p>\n
Apart from regulating broadcasting operators, the bill also
\nregulates cross-ownership, foreign investment in domestic
\nbroadcasting and advertising.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tv-radio-operators-reject-bill-on-broadcasting-1447893297",
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