Agum Gumelar to cancel decree on broadcasting

Agum Gumelar to cancel decree on broadcasting

JAKARTA (JP): Following protests on the infringement of press
freedom, Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar agreed on Monday
to annul his decree on broadcasting.

In anticipation of an end to government intervention in
broadcasting, Agum, however, warned that the public should be
ready. "Don't engage in a conflict over it," he remarked in a
panel discussion with members of the broadcasting community and
print journalists.

The talks, held by the Jakarta-based Voice of Human Rights
radio program, focused on the January decree.

The decree No. 04/2000, dated Jan. 26, stipulates the
establishment of a directorate general on broadcasting affairs
and the issuance of broadcasting licenses to new radio and
television stations.

But Agum warned that the annulment of the decree would require
"process."

"The most important thing is we have a spirit toward it."

Given that in the future, broadcasting affairs would no longer
be regulated by the government, Agum said he would support the
establishment of an independent body in place of a directorate
general.

When dissolving the ministry of information, President
Abdurrahman Wahid said that information affairs should be in the
hands of the public.

The minister earlier explained that the decree was based on
the necessity to relocate approximately 5,000 employees of the
dissolved ministry of information.

Besides, airwave frequencies as a limited resource needed
regulation, he said.

Broadcasting journalists have strongly protested the decree,
arguing that it would inhibit press freedom and the free flow of
information.

Organizers of the one-day talks said that the planned
subdirectorate which, among others, would authorize production
feasibility and broadcast content evaluation, would have the
effect of censorship.

The subdirectorate mentioned in article 27 would also regulate
promotion of productions.

Article 47 states that all regulations of the former
directorate general of radio, television and film are still
effective and are thus "regarded as the reincarnation of the
ministry of information," organizers said.

"It is very strange that the Ministry of Communications claims
that the set up of the directorate general does not intend to
interfere with broadcasting," a media release from Voice of Human
Rights said, "while the above clauses obviously state the
government's right and opportunity" to do so.

Agum's intention to annul the decree drew a warm response.

"Only frequencies should be regulated, not content," the
secretary-general of the Association of Independent Journalists
(AJI), Didik Supriyanto, said.

Chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid
Institute (YLBHI) Bambang Wijoyanto said that regulations on
broadcasting should wait until the new Press Law was effective.
Under the old law, broadcasting was still controlled by the
state, he noted.

Bambang added that government officials should communicate
their ideas before issuing policies such as the controversial
broadcasting decree.

"The government should be open and not arrogant," Bambang
said. (08)