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)