Hartono vows to punish erring radio stations

SURABAYA (JP): The government has placed several municipal government-run and private radio stations under scrutiny for alleged fraud.

Minister of Information R. Hartono said after dedicating a paper factory in Gresik, East Java, yesterday, that radio stations under control of municipal governments had illegally aired commercials.

He said he also found out, with the help of local governments, that some private radio stations operated without proper licenses from the ministry.

However, Hartono refused to disclose the names of radio stations which were being scrutinized for the alleged problems.

"Violations occur almost throughout the country, as if the regulations are taken for granted. We now intend to restore order," Hartono said.

The operation was conducted by a special team which involved the ministry and the police, he said. Guilty radio stations may face being permanently banned.

Hartono said East Java was named as a pilot project area for a nation-wide crackdown on law-breaking radio stations.

There are 898 radio stations operating in the country's 27 provinces, with 700 of them belonging to private companies and 146 owned by municipal governments. State-owned radio RRI has 52 stations.

Hartono said local government-run radio stations were built to transmit programs broadcast by RRI and to disseminate local government policies to the public. Their broadcasting activities are funded by their respective municipal governments.

He said many radio stations complained about financial problems and set very low prices for advertisements. "But does the (financial) problem justify the violation?" he said.

Hartono said he would ask governors, regents and mayors not to allow private companies to operate radio stations if they fail to get permits from proper institutions, including the Ministry of Information.

"I hope they (the heads of municipal governments) understand this ruling," Hartono said.

Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, Association of National Private Radio Stations chairwoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, and East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman were present at the ceremony.

The paper factory that was dedicated, PT Adiprima Suraprinta, is owned by Jawa Pos Group, one of the country's media giants which controls 20 dailies, three magazines and seven tabloids.

The general manager of the company, Dahlan Iskan, said the factory would be able to supply 120 tons of paper a day at full capacity. The factory's temporary capacity is set at 100 tons, 70 percent of which will be reserved for the Surabaya-based media group.

PT Adiprima invested Rp 80 billion (US$30.7 million) into the factory. The company has invested another Rp 100 billion for the expansion of the factory, scheduled to be completed next year. (nur/amd)