Joop Ave discourages telephone chat-lines

JAKARTA (JP): The government discouraged yesterday the use of telephone chat-line services, saying many had been exploited as a medium for sexually related activity.

Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave disparaged the existence of the services saying that they had taken advantage of the telecommunications infrastructure.

"The government has built telephone, TV and satellite (infrastructure) for the progress of the nation, but unfortunately bandits have used it for destructive purposes," Joop said.

"Personally I've never used this party-line thing, but a staff member of mine has studied it," he said, adding that "there are a few party-lines which are not obscene".

Joop was responding to media scrutiny over the popularity of chat-lines in Indonesia.

Parents have complained of skyrocketing bills as their children dial the numbers to entertain themselves, while observers question the moral impact of the chat-lines.

Joop expressed his gratitude at the media's role in bringing the issue to public attention.

He said the government would do its best to protect its citizens from any exploitation, but acknowledged it was very difficult to curb such services because the organizers have operated within legal boundaries.

It depends more on the users whether they use their telephone facilities for positive or negative purposes, Joop said.

"I have been asked what a minister can do in this matter -- I am studying it... The government cannot act arbitrarily," he said.

"But clearly it is felt that if these activities corrupt the ethics and morals of the nation, then the government has the right to take action," he added.

"I hope we declare war on it," Joop said. (prb)