Broadcasting bill will leave govt in control

JAKARTA (JP): The government acknowledges that there's no way the broadcasting bill currently being deliberated in the House is going to satisfy everybody as it promises to maintain the government's control over broadcasting activities in the country.

The Ministry of Information's director general of radio, television and film, Dewabrata, said in a seminar on radio yesterday that regulations are needed to protect the community from broadcasting's adverse impacts.

In a written speech delivered by his staff member Arsyad Subik, Dewabrata said that attempts to regulate radio and television broadcasting "have been rather free" and are meant to optimize the benefits of the media.

At almost the same time yesterday, the House of Representatives set up a special committee in charge of deliberating the bill, which has been widely criticized for its "restrictive" nature. Observers have pointed out that if passed, the bill could be used by the government to expand its control over broadcast media.

Marcel Beding, for instance, recently said that the bill is full of contentious articles, including one which requires television stations to dub all foreign films into Indonesian.

"There are too many controversial articles in the bill. It does not deserve to be discussed by the House at all," charged Marcel. "Despite 18 years of preparation on the part of the government, this bill still contains illogical rulings."

He has said that 22 of the 58 articles will have to be supplemented with government directives in order to be implemented. "If such a bill is passed, then it means that the House has only stamped a government regulation, not formed a law," he has said.

In the plenary session chaired by Deputy House Speaker Soetedjo, the House appointed Abu Hasan Sazili of the dominant Golkar faction as chairman of the committee. His deputies are Suryo Handjono, also of Golkar, Theo Syafei of the Armed Forces faction, Aisyah Amini of the United Development Party (PPP) faction and Marcel Beding of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction.

The committee has 62 members and will meet next week for further discussion of the bill. (swe)