Government warns media over pornography
Government warns media over pornography
Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government pledged on Wednesday that it would take stiff
measures against the broadcast or publication of sexually
suggestive images, although immediate moves would be restricted
to issuing a warning.
"Law enforcers will take strict action (against media
publishing or airing sexually suggestive material). The
government is therefore issuing a warning in advance. Action will
be taken by law enforcers (police)," State Minister of
Communications and Information Syamsul Mu'arif said on Wednesday.
"This warning should not be taken lightly."
Syamsul was speaking in a discussion on pornography and action
against pornography, which was attended by Coordinating Minister
for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Women's Empowerment
Sri Redjeki Sumarjoto, Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil
Husin Al Munawar and representatives from the Indonesian Council
of Ulemas (MUI).
During the discussion, Syamsul said that the publication of
dozens of both old and new magazines bordering on the risque
tested the society's tolerance, and that concerns expressed by
religious leaders on the existence of racy magazines were valid.
These concerns could eventually be addressed through the legal
system.
"Just because the government is still debating the definition
of 'media pornography' does not mean that police will stay quiet
and do nothing," Syamsul said.
Syamsul, however, fell short of responding to questions on the
eventual possibility of strict measures to curtail press freedom.
There were expressions of fear during the discussion that the new
policy would allow enforcers of the law to hit hard against
publications which the government or religious bodies believe to
contain sexually suggestive material.
On Wednesday, MUI identified Dansa yo Dansa, a broadcast by
state-owned TV station TVRI; Majalah X, aired by private TV
station SCTV; and Life and Love, aired by private TV station
Metro TV, as some of the television programs that contained
suggestive content.
Many cases that have come before courts were normally over
material that usually fell into a gray area, with defense lawyers
arguing that the material in question was categorized as
"artistic expression," and not pornographic.
Kalla said due to the high demand for sexually suggestive
material in Indonesia, the definition for the standards of
decency should first be discussed with the Indonesian Press
Council, police officials, prosecutors and MUI members. The
antipornography bill, he said, was being discussed and drafted
jointly by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of
National Education.
"There are many who are against 'pornography'. The fact,
however, remains that the demand for it is also high. This demand
has led the media to (publish or air) racy material," Jusuf said
at the discussion.
Airing or publishing material deemed offensive could get
suspects charged under Article 282 of the Criminal Code
pertaining to the standards of decency.
The South Jakarta District Court sentenced in June 2000 the
chief editor of Matra monthly magazine, Robertus Riantiarno, to a
five-month suspended jail term for publishing sexually suggestive
pictures in its 1999 June and July editions.