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.