Deliberation of broadcasting bill underway
Deliberation of broadcasting bill underway
JAKARTA (JP): The government and the House of Representatives
began deliberating the long-awaited bill on radio and television
broadcasting yesterday.
In the first stage of the law-making process, Minister of
Information Harmoko presented the government's views on the bill
before a plenary meeting at the House.
The future law, which consists of 58 articles, aims at setting
clear regulations for radio and TV stations in the wake of
technological developments and the free global flow of
information.
"A strong legal basis is needed to make sure that Indonesia
can make the best use of the positive effects and avoid the
negative impact (of the information)," he told a plenary session
in the House.
The public has been given until August to contribute ideas to
the government-sponsored bill.
Controversy is brewing around the government's insistence on
dubbing foreign language programs, in the hope that it will boost
the viewers' love of and ability to use the Indonesian language.
Religious programs, language lessons and programs for
international broadcasting purposes are exempted from the rule.
Critics say that programs in English must not be dubbed
because Indonesians need to learn that internationally recognized
language from them. In addition, the critics claim, dubbing does
not guarantee that people will speak Indonesian better.
The law will reportedly end the state-owned television station
TVRI's and radio station RRI's much-criticized monopoly in news
broadcasts. It is expected to legalize news programs broadcasted
by private stations.
Currently, private TV and radio stations are required to relay
news broadcasts from the government-owned stations. However, all
five private TV stations also air their own news broadcasts.
Harmoko said, however, news to be aired by privately owned
television and radio stations are subject to government
censorship.
"Private networks should get the government's permit before
producing their own news, because news has a great and direct
impact on the public," Harmoko said.
He argued that the making of "good" news requires certain
requirements that not all TV and radio stations can meet.
The bill requires all television stations to slash their
foreign programs to 20 percent of total air time. Eighty percent
of their broadcasts should be locally made.
The government argues that locally-produced programs must
dominate the air time, otherwise local TV stations will become
mere trumpets of foreign interests.
"Foreign programs should be carefully selected so that they
will not harm Indonesian values, national interests and not upset
relations with other countries," Harmoko said.
The future law also regulates advertisements on TV and radio.
On a separate occasion yesterday, Director General for Radio,
Television and Film Dewabrata rejected a proposal that private TV
stations be allowed to advertise political parties' programs.
"The existing regulations do not allow it," he told reporters.
The suggestion for the government to allow TV stations to
advertise political programs was made last week by Fahmi Alatas,
a senior executive of the ruling Golkar party.
Alatas argued that the practice is commonplace in the West,
notably in the U.S.
Dewabrata said that instead, TV stations will be allowed to
allocate special time for political parties to contest in next
year's election to present their programs, but not in the form of
advertisements. (31)
Dubbing -- Page 2
Editorial -- Page 4