House screens KPI candidates

House screens KPI candidates

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives subcommission for communications and
information began to assess on Thursday the suitability of
candidates for membership of the Indonesian Broadcasting
Commission (KPI), paying much attention to their integrity and
independence.

When grilling Bimo Nugroho, Mochamad Sukarna, Mahayoni, Wahyu
S. Hadiardoyo and Dedi Iskandar Muda, the legislators were
curious about the candidates' responses to questions about
commercialization of the mass media and possible links to
broadcasting moguls.

The legislators did not, however, explore the candidates'
vision of the KPI as a regulator of the national broadcasting
industry.

Sukarna and Wahyu were questioned on their employment by
broadcasting companies opposed to the formation of the KPI.

Sukarna, who is now the general manager of private channel
ANTeve and was previously at LaTivi, asserted there would be no
conflict of interest if he were chosen, while Wahyu said he had
quit Radio Muslim.

ANTeve and LaTivi are members of the Association of Private
Television Broadcasters, while Radio Muslim is a member of the
Association of Private Radio Stations.

Both associations have been opposing Law No.32/2002 on
broadcasting and the formation of the KPI on the ground that they
posed a threat to press freedom.

Meanwhile, Dedi was questioned on his status as a civil
servant as head of the South Kalimantan branch of state TV
channel TVRI. In his reply, Dedi said he would resign from his
post if he were chosen.

During his session, Bimo, the director of the Institute for
the Free Flow of Information (ISAI), told the lawmakers of his
plan to develop the KPI as a democratic regulator. He said he
would cooperate with the broadcasting industry and be transparent
in the reorganization and allocation of broadcasting frequencies.

Meanwhile, Dedi proposed short-term cooperation between the
KPI and the General Elections Commission (KPU) to strictly
regulate broadcast campaigns during the election campaign next
year.

The screening will continue on Friday with six candidates. The
government nominated 27 candidates who will vie for nine seats on
the KPI.

Law No.32/2002 on broadcasting orders that the government
establish the KPI by Dec. 28, 2003.