KPI plans to introduce broadcasting standards

KPI plans to introduce broadcasting standards

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) is planning to issue
content guidelines to serve as program standards for the
country's television industry, a commission member says.

KPI member Amelia Hezkasari said on Wednesday that the
commission would release the draft guidelines later this month.

"We will allow a public discussion period of three months for
the draft guidelines, and we hope that they will go into effect
this year," she told reporters after a discussion on television
organized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

The guidelines, according to Amelia, would, among other
things, allow viewers to file complaints about television
programs with the commission.

Separately, a number of legislators raised their concerns
during a meeting with State Minister for Communications and
Information Syamsul Mu'arif over some television programs that
they claimed could "damage the nation".

Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)
suggested that the government appeal to television stations to
stop airing violence, mysticism and racy material.

Nadier Muhammad of the United Development Party (PPP)
concurred with Permadi, arguing that the government must protect
the "morals of the nation".

Responding to their concerns, Syamsul said the government was
not in a position to take action against the television stations.

He said that the government had set up a task force to address
the question of program content and to draft guidelines.

The minister added that the KPI could warn television stations
twice before the police brought criminal charges against them for
airing racy or suggestive material.

Amelia, meanwhile, said that her office would be required to
respond to viewer complaints and examine whether a television
program had violated the guidelines.

"If it is found to have done so, the KPI will be required to
reprimand the station in question," she said.

Law No. 32/2002 on the broadcasting industry allows the KPI as
the country's broadcasting regulator to order television stations
to pull shows that the commission considers inappropriate.

The harshest sanction that can be imposed by the KPI is to
curtail the permitted broadcasting hours of a television station.

Currently, Amelia said, the KPI could only warn television
stations not to air too many programs devoted to mysticism,
gossip, crime or sex.

"We have warned them, and some of them have started to improve
the content of these programs," she said.

Adolf Posumah, a spokesperson for Lativi television, and
artist Ratna Sarumpaet agreed with Amelia and suggested that the
KPI issue the guidelines soon.

"To some extent, television stations do make mistakes, so I
support the drafting of guidelines," Adolf told the discussion.