High crime rate linked to TV violence: Singgih

High crime rate linked to TV violence: Singgih

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Singgih has appealed to
television stations to tone down the amount of violence in their
programs because they could encourage criminal activities.

Singgih told a seminar of criminologists in Semarang on
Thursday violence on television has some links with crime and
violence in society, the Antara news agency reported.

"I'd like to remind commercial television stations to exercise
wisdom in deciding to screen foreign films which portray
violence, because they have a major impact on viewers," he said.

Indonesia's four commercial networks, in their drive to
attract audiences and advertisers, have been accused of
portraying too much violence. In particular critics target the
action-filled American imports and kungfu films. However, the
private networks have continued to air the programs in spite of
the criticisms.

Falling short of any concrete evidence linking violence on TV
with crime rates in society, Singgih in his presentation used the
popular Latin American soap operas, or telenovelas, to illustrate
his point of the power the television media has over the public.

These Latin imports have managed to "hypnotize" millions of
television viewers in Indonesia to stop their daily chores and
watch the films, he said.

Such is the power of the television media on viewers that any
message relayed through the screen, including violence, would
easily influence the viewers, he added.

The Attorney General said he fully agreed with the suggestion
by LP2K, a Semarang-based consumer agency, that television
networks should review their scheduling of telenovelas in view of
the excesses they have on society.

"I've seen it with my own eyes the impact of these programs on
children and women. Usually they become lazy in their work as
soon as the programs begin," he said. (emb)