Film censorship a must to retain certain norms

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government rules that all films and commercials must be censored to protect the public from any possible negative impact of the productions.

Under the tight censorship, certain scenes must be omitted. Some films have even been rejected while others have been withdrawn from circulation following public protest.

Oscar-winning film Schindler's List did not pass censorship in June last year because it was said to contain too much violence and nudity. The Indonesian Council of Ulemas had said that the film was Jewish propaganda.

The government banned True Lies in September last year upon the protest of some Moslem leaders who believed that the film insulted Islam. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the comedy-action film had been playing to full houses for two weeks before it was barred from circulation.

Several local films have also been banned. Romusha was banned in 1974 on the grounds that it exploited violence. Pembalasan Ratu Laut Selatan (The Revenge of the Queen of the Southern Sea) was banned in 1989 after the public protested that it promoted obscenity and violence.

What are the criteria of film censorship?

According to the government's new regulation on film censorship, signed by President Soeharto on March 3, 1994, any film which emphasizes a certain political ideology, which can result in dissent and can disturb national stability, should be rejected. The Film Censorship Institute, the authorized censorship body in the country, will reject any film which focuses on atheism or discredits a certain religion which is recognized in the country. If more than 50 percent of the scenes contain violence or sex, the film must also be rejected.

Censorship must be based on the elements of religion, ideology and politics, public order and socio-cultural elements.

From the socio-cultural point of view, scenes which should be omitted include:

* Any scene of a man and a woman who are totally naked, or who look totally naked, seen frontal, from behind or from the side.

* Close up of private organs, thighs, breasts or buttocks, with or without any cover.

* Passionate kissing, by either a heterosexual or a homosexual couple.

* Any scene, action or sound of people or animals making love, either explicitly or implicitly.

* Masturbation, homosexual acts and oral sex.

* Any acts of human beings or animals which can arouse a viewer's passion.

* Improper exposure of contraceptive devices.

* Scenes which can give the impression of people being unethical.

Scenes cut because they can cause public disorder are:

* The execution of a death sentence which is described in detail so that it can give the impression of torture.

* Violence or its result, which can give the impression of sadism.

* Exaggeration in the description of the felony of an individual, still living or dead, or a group of people in society.

From the ideological and political points of view, things which are cut are:

* Any scene which is disadvantageous to the preservation of the values based on the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution.

* Any scene which supports communism, Marxism/Leninism, Maoism, colonialism, imperialism and fascism.

* Any picture or symbol which is associated with the worship of the truth of communism, Marxism/Leninism and Maoism.

The government says that censorship is meant to maintain the values and culture of the nation and to monitor public appreciation for films. It is also a part of the government's effort to guide cinematography in Indonesia. (sim)