Private radios to go on strike against broadcasting law
Private radios to go on strike against broadcasting law
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta/Cirebon
All private radio stations have planned to stop airing for at
least one day in a protest against the enaction of a new
broadcasting law.
The protest will simultaneously involve all radio stations
grouped in the Association of Indonesian National Private Radio
(PRSSNI) throughout the country, the association's Riau branch
secretary Kristiyanto told Antara on Tuesday.
"All PRSSNI members have agreed not to broadcast for one full
day to protest the existence of the broadcasting law," he said in
the industrial island of Batam, Riau.
He said his association claimed that the law curbs the freedom
of radio broadcasting in Indonesia. He did not elaborate further.
Kristiyanto declined to mention when the private radio
stations in question would stage a protest, saying it was still
"secrete".
"We can not disclose the timetable of the protest, but all the
association's members opposed to the broadcasting law will join
in," said Kristiyanto, who is also director of PT Radio Kencana
RIS in Batam.
The secretary of Riau's PRSSNI, which comprises 20 members,
also urged the local authorities to take action against radio
stations operating without the required broadcasting licenses in
the province.
"We want relevant agencies to straighten out and take action
to the owners of illegal radio stations," he said.
According to Antara, some illegal radio networks have operated
with support of officials at the Batam administration.
Kristiyanto did not mention the number of radio stations
operating illegally in the province.
In Riau Islands alone, he said there were at least 10 private
radio stations airing without operational permits, including five
in Tanjungpinang, two in Batam and three in Karimun.
"PRSSNI faces difficulties in organizing an operation against
the illegal radio networks as it should involve a number of
officials from relevant agencies, such as the local police and
transportation office," Kristiyanto said.
However, he insisted that his association will continue to
strive for an operation against the lawful radio stations.
Meanwhile in the West Java city of Cirebon, the local
administration has finally closed a private radio station called
Nuansa FM for failing to show their licenses.
It also closed the illegal Nuansa Cafe which was housed in the
same building as the closed radio on Jl. Dr Ciptomangunkusumo,
Cirebon.
The Cirebon authorities claimed the luxury structure has no
building establishment permit.
The closure forced at least 70 employees of the two firms,
which was established one month ago, to lose their jobs. They
were paid in line with the minimum basic wage of Rp 314,000 per
month.
The owner of the radio and the cafe, Agus Hartono, denied that
his two companies operated illegally, saying he was still
arranging licenses for his two companies.
"The permits are still being processed. We are disappointed
with the closures because it was done without notifying us
first," Agus complained.