No follow-up on TV complaints

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

For parents nowadays, watching TV can be as stressful as struggling through the traffic during peak hours.

"I constantly worry when watching TV with my son," Asterbita, a 29-year-old mother, said, complaining how acts of sex and violence heavily color television shows at hours when children were still awake.

The young mother is not alone. The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has lodged 206 complaints to 11 television stations, including state-television TVRI, regarding shows it considered unethical.

Complaints about sex and sensuality on TV topped the list, followed by acts of violence, and depictions of the supernatural and mysticism.

Despite the existence of KPI as a broadcasting supervisor responsible for program standards, the quality of television shows has not improved.

"We have so far not imposed any sanctions against any television stations that have been the target of complaints from viewers because they question the legal basis of our authority to do so," KPI chairman Victor Menayang said on Monday.

Victor added that the commission's failure so far to fully implement its national standards for broadcast programs had contributed to the fact that until now little had changed in terms of the quality of aired television shows.

"The public may not have seen any significant difference on our TV shows yet because current regulations hamper any follow-up measures on their complaints from being taken," he said.

However, as soon as the commission was given enforceable regulations, then it would follow up on complaints accordingly. "Of course, we will have to consider whether or not the complaints are actually valid," Victor added.

KPI standards ban television stations from airing footage that depicts kissing, sexual intercourse and other sensual acts, acts conveying sexual desire, explicit violence and complete reconstructions of crimes.

However, it still permits television broadcasters to air "programs for adults" after 10 p.m.

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, and to revoke the broadcasting licenses of television stations.

Separately, Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan A. Djalil said that the long-awaited regulations on broadcasting would be issued in a few weeks.

"We are still seeking to reach an agreement with the Jakarta Stock Exchange and Bapepam (Capital Market Supervisory Agency) on regulations concerning share ownership of television stations," he said.

Sofyan added that his ministry would support any authority given to the KPI, including its right to impose sanctions on offending television stations.

"We encourage people to file their complaints through the KPI," Victor said, adding that the public could have access to copies of the broadcasting program standards at the KPI head office or through its website.

Further complaints can be addressed to the KPI's head office at the BAPETEN building, 6th floor, Jl. Gajah Mada 8, Central Jakarta, or by email to info@kpi.go.id or pengaduan@kpi.go.id. On-line complaint forms can also be obtained and submitted through www.kpi.go.id.

Complainants may also call (021) 634 0713, or send a fax to (021) 634 0667. (003)

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission's authority:

1. setting of guidelines for broadcast program standards

2. overseeing the implementation of the standards

3. imposing sanctions on offenders

4. giving recommendations for the issuance of broadcasting licenses to the government

5. giving recommendations on radio frequency allocations to the government

Source : Law No. 32/2002 on Broadcasting