Hassan criticizes restriction of foreign broadcasting
Hassan criticizes restriction of foreign broadcasting
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda has joined the chorus of
criticism against the broadcasting bill for restricting foreign
radio and television broadcasting, calling it censorship.
Speaking in an interview with Voice of America in Washington
on Sunday, Hassan said any kind of limitation on foreign
broadcasting would be counterproductive for the country.
He said such a restriction would be impossible to implement in
the current globalization era.
"Any form of censorship, limitation or curbing of foreign
broadcasting in this new world of the information superhighway
will only be counterproductive," the minister said.
He further underlined that should the House of Representatives
pass the bill, it would not be enforceable or effective in
limiting the free flow of information.
"This new law will merely be a piece of paper. Why should we
produce a law that is not effective or enforceable," the minister
added.
He asserted that in the new borderless world it would be
impossible to restrict any kind information from entering the
country.
"The move by the House to curb foreign broadcasting is against
the spirit of reform in Indonesia that the government has
fostered.
"Compared to neighboring countries, Indonesia has been left
behind in this new world of information. Malaysia, Singapore, the
Philippines and Thailand have moved far beyond this kind of
censorship."
In a bid to protect local channels and domestic audience, the
bill bans the relay of foreign programs, especially news, blood
sports or other events that are not in line with the country's
cultural norms. VOA and BBC, which regularly broadcast an
Indonesian news program, will be the immediate victims of the
bill if it is passed.
The bill also restricts local TV and radio stations from
airing foreign programs on a regular basis.
In an apparent effort in damage control, foreign ministry
spokesman Marty Natalegawa told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that
Hassan was not commenting specifically on the draft.
"The minister was commenting on general issues regarding any
attempt to curb the free flow of information," Marty said in a
telephone interview from New York, where he is accompanying
Hassan in attending the UN General Assembly.
Marty further stressed that the foreign minister had not seen
the broadcasting bill.
The House has insisted that such a regulation is needed to
minimize the possibility of TV or radio stations relaying foreign
programs all day without any limitation.
Earlier, State Minister for Communication and Information
Syamsul Mu'arif played down the limitation, saying TV and radio
stations could just delay the broadcast for a half an hour.
Due to a wave of criticism, the House has agreed to delay the
endorsement of the bill until November.
Separately, press ethics and law expert RH Siregar branded the
bill as a reincarnation of the former press license.
The bill, he said, covered regulations that distorted press
freedom by authorizing civil servant investigators to suspend the
use of broadcasting devices, which is practically a broadcasting
ban.
"The fatal consequence of the bill is that it can result in
the loss of the freedom of expression which is guaranteed by the
Constitution," he told participants of a workshop on press ethics
and law in Jakarta as quoted by Antara.
He suggested that the House and the government review the
bill, fearing that once it is passed unchanged the government may
demand an amendment of the 1999 Press Law which many say is too
liberal.