Laser discs without stickers confiscated
Laser discs without stickers confiscated
JAKARTA (JP): The city police confiscated 1,755 laser discs without official stickers from local rental shops on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Aryanto Sutadi told reporters yesterday the crack down on uncensored laser discs was carried out in the wake of the April 28 deadline to have discs censored by the Film Censorship Institute.
Aryanto said that during the raids on seven laser disc rental shops in Glodok Plaza, Lokasari, Citraland, Tanjung Duren, Rawamangun, Kelapa Gading and Blok M, the police questioned 13 shop owners.
The 13 men were released as soon as the questioning process was completed, he said.
Aryanto cited three criteria used for confiscation: the absence of stickers, discs of illegal copies of films which are still on at movie theaters and pornographic content.
"Our first target is laser discs without stickers," Aryanto said, insisting that the authorities had allowed adequate time for the public to register their laser discs.
He said the raids will be held regularly and expanded to other locations.
"This operation is a part of the government's effort to control the circulation of laser discs and video films," Aryanto told reporters.
Based on Ministry of Information Decree No.7/1994, issued on Oct. 28 last year, all discs and video films to be distributed have to pass through the Film Censorship Institute.
Recordings that have been accepted will bear stickers from the institute, while those that have not been checked by the censorship board are considered illegal.
Film Law No.8/1992 states that people found guilty of possessing or circulating uncensored laser discs will face a maximum of five years imprisonment or be fined Rp 50 million ($23,000).
Laser disc rental shops and owners can get legalization stickers at a rate of Rp 20,000 for new discs and Rp 5,000 for old ones.
The number of laser discs and video cassettes registered at rental centers in Central Jakarta totals 2,353 laser discs and 2,353 video cassettes, in South Jakarta 5,501 discs and 6,957 cassettes, and in West Jakarta 7,652 discs and 8,389 cassettes.
In North Jakarta there are 7,100 laser discs and 7,595 video cassettes and in East Jakarta 1,416 discs and 1,562 cassettes. (29)