Broadcasting bill will leave govt in control
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)