Broadcasting regulatory agency

Broadcasting regulatory agency

From Panji

Article 2 of Law No. 40/1999 on the press stipulates that
press freedom is the manifestation of the people's sovereignty on
the basis of the principles of democracy, justice and the
supremacy of the law. Nevertheless, the role of the electronic
media in our country does not seem to be clear. When the bill on
broadcasting was discussed by the special committee of the House
of Representatives there was quite a significant difference in
opinion between the House, the broadcasting community and the
government (the Ministry of Communications and
Telecommunications), especially about a regulatory agency.

In my opinion, these differences must be resolved wisely in
the spirit of reform as contained in the article referred to
above, in order to ensure that every effort will be directed
toward achieving a better social life as guaranteed by the law,
which accommodates common benefits.

The regulatory agency referred to above -- regardless of what
name is given to it -- must be based on principles which do not
contradict democracy, human rights and the supremacy of the law,
aside from protecting the community in regard to information and
not reflecting the executive power, as was the case of the
previous broadcasting law (Law No. 27/1997).

In performing its duties and functions, this regulatory agency
must really be independent and be made up of broadcasting
experts, community representatives or representatives of the
government who have not been co-opted by the powers-that-be and
the interests of the executive power. Therefore, this state
agency must be beneficial to the community as a whole and not
only to the government.

The broadcast media plays an important role in ensuring the
unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia and the spirit of
democracy found in the 1945 Constitution will be upheld in the
present era of globalization. To beef up the basis for the new
law on broadcasting, the establishment of a code of conduct for
broadcasting must be made the main priority in a move toward
professional broadcasting.

MURDIANTO

Jakarta