House out to restrict foreign program relays

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives is steadfast in restricting local radio and television channels in their regular relays of foreign broadcasts, but agreed on Thursday to grant a two-year grace period.

The final draft of the broadcasting bill states that only sports and entertainment events will be exempted from the ruling.

"We are not banning the practice, only setting a limit so there will be no regular programs relayed from foreign broadcasters," member of the House of Representatives special committee deliberating the bill Amin Said Husni said.

The transmission of regular programs from foreign broadcasters has become common here. For example, Elshinta private radio station airs a live Indonesian-language news program broadcast by London-based BBC World Service twice a day, at 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.

New TV channel Global is another target of the bill as most of its programs are produced by Singapore-based MTV.

The bill also seeks a ban on news, violent sports and other programs that are not considered to be in line with the country's moral values.

Some local TV channels have for the past year aired foreign- produced fighting contests or an Indonesian edition of the same.

Amin said the limitation was intended to limit foreign information and propaganda in influencing the country's citizens.

The ruling, sponsored by the House, has sparked concern within the media community.

British Ambassador to Indonesia Richard Gozney even paid a visit to see State Minister of Information and Communication Syamsul Muarif to ask about the proposal.

"The ambassador questioned the decision; as it did not come from the government, I asked legislators to explain it to Mr. Gozney," Syamsul told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Syamsul said he had met with Gozney on Wednesday.

The minister deemed the proposal unnecessary because most radio and television stations would find loopholes to get round the restrictions.

"For example, they could air a program 30 minutes after it had been broadcast, which means they would not have relayed it directly, so, according to the regulations, that would be OK," Syamsul said.

He added that the government would try to persuade legislators to revise the proposed ruling.