Harmoko defends state's control over broadcasting

Harmoko defends state's control over broadcasting

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko defended
yesterday the government's control over the nation's broadcasting
industry given the influence it has over the lives of people.

"Broadcasting concerns public interest. Its operation
therefore must be controlled by the government," Harmoko told a
plenary session of the House of Representatives in deliberating
the government-sponsored bill on broadcasting.

During an earlier reading, various factions in the House
criticized the bill, saying it gives the government too much
power in regulating the broadcasting industry. They were
particularly concerned that the bill empowers the government to
issue 22 regulations over the operation of radio and television
stations.

The bill, for example, requires a private television network
to apply for a separate license from the government, besides the
broadcasting permit, to produce and broadcast news.

Yesterday's hearing, chaired by Deputy Speaker Sutedjo, was
the third reading of the bill which will, for the first time,
provide private broadcasters with a legal framework. Currently
broadcasters operate under various government rules.

Harmoko underlined that the bill gives broadcasters roles in
education, information and entertainment all at once.

The proposed legislation is aimed at protecting the public's
interest from the harmful impacts of broadcasting, he said.

He promised there will not be 22 separate decrees coming out
of the bill once it is passed, since some items can regulated
under one decree.

The minister said a separate permit for news broadcasting is
necessary as it entails journalistic activities that underlines
the responsibility and credibility of a broadcasting operator.

"Given the huge and direct influence that news has on the
public, private broadcasters must fulfill various conditions,
among others an ability to manage news and the existence of
professional workers (journalists) and supervisors responsible
for the operation," he said.

"The licensing for news is not intended to burden the private
broadcasters at all," he added.

Indonesia's five private television networks had hoped the
bill would give them a solid legal foundation to be able to
produce and broadcast their own news. Currently, although some do
produce their own news programs they must still relay the news
produced by TVRI, the state-owned television network.

Harmoko also dismissed concerns that the bill, if passed, will
empower the government to close down broadcasting operators.

He said his office discussed the stipulation with the National
Police, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Justice
and the Ministry of Defense and Security when drafting the bill.

The United Development Party (PPP) faction in the House
earlier expressed concern at the immense power the government
will have over broadcasting operators, including the right to
liquidate a company, if the bill was enacted.

The faction drew an analogy to the use of the 1967 Press Law
which empowers the government to close down a newspaper by
rescinding its license.

"We do not want what happens to the press to be repeated with
the broadcasting media," Zainal Abidin, PPP's spokesman said.

While arguing against some of the criticism, Harmoko took note
of the various concerns and said that the government was prepared
to discuss these concerns with the House and find compromises.

One of the points he said he was willing to discuss was the
requirement that TV stations dub all foreign programs into
Indonesian, an issue that has sparked a national polemic.

The PPP, Golkar and Armed Forces factions have all suggested
that the ruling be applied selectively rather than on all foreign
programs. (01)