Government pulls plug on live House broadcast

Government pulls plug on live House broadcast

JAKARTA (JP): A planned live TV broadcast from the House of
Representatives (DPR) of Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad's
explanation on the economic reform package, was abruptly canceled
yesterday after the government intervened.

Two private TV stations -- ANteve and SCTV -- had planned a
direct coverage of the plenary session.

The session was hugely anticipated as it was the first time
Mar'ie had spoken to the House since the announcement of
economic reforms a week ago which included the liquidation of 16
private banks.

Minister of Information R. Hartono said yesterday that the
decision to ban the broadcast was made in accordance with the
newly adopted broadcasting law.

"Private television stations are not allowed to make live
broadcasts of the House, only the state-run TVRI," he told
reporters after the morning session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) Ad Hoc Committee meeting.

He said he would reprimand the two private TV stations over
their actions.

"They know the rules. Yet, they still planned to make the
direct broadcast," he said.

However the broadcasting law does not specify procedures for
private TV stations intending to make live broadcasts from the
House.

It does mention the possibility of a private TV station making
a joint broadcast with the government-owned service, TVRI.

ANteve editor-in-chief, Azkarmin Zaini, said he received the
order to pull the plug on the program Sunday evening.

"The Director of Television at the Information Ministry, Abdul
Azis Husain, phoned me at about 10 p.m., asking me to cancel the
live broadcast of the plenary session," he told reporters.

Azkarmin said he regretted the decision to stop the broadcast
as it had reduced the public's access to direct information.

"I think direct broadcasting has a positive impact on the
public, as it provides immediate and on-the-spot information on
the government's economic policy to liquidate the 16 private
banks," he said.

Azkarmin said ANteve received approval from the House before
it began Saturday installing equipment for the broadcast.

Three House legislators said yesterday they regretted the
government's decision.

House Speaker Harmoko said he supported the idea of live
broadcasting and the public's right to information should not be
ignored.

"People should not be excluded from such open House hearings
and plenary sessions," said Harmoko who was information minister
for 14-years until replaced by Hartono in July.

A legislator of the Golkar faction, Sofyan Lubis, said the two
TV stations should not have been banned from making the
broadcast, especially given that the House had issued its
approval.

"The building is owned by the DPR/MPR. The legislative bodies
have the right to issue such an approval," said Sofyan, also
chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association.

The Deputy House Speaker of the Golkar faction, Abdul Gafur,
also said the ban should not have been issued.

"The plenary session could have been viewed by hundreds of
millions of Indonesians," he said.

Harmoko said that openness and transparency needed to be
developed in the House.

"The House is an institution for the development of people's
democracy. We must not let it become a closed legislative body,"
he said.

When asked about the House's decision to accede to government
executives, Harmoko said the House's will to develop openness
should be seen as a positive initiative.

Sofyan suggested that the Indonesian mass media refer to the
broadcasting law before making live broadcasts.

He dismissed speculation that the ban was politically
motivated. "No, it was merely on technical grounds," he told
reporters.

Gafur said the ban was merely a matter of procedure.

"The broadcasting law requires a private TV station to
coordinate with the government TV station," he said. (imn)