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.