Radio silenced during election

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Communications has banned the use of shortwave radios beginning next week in order not to disturb the presidential election runoff and the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

According to a circular issued by the ministry's Directorate General of Post and Telecommunications, shortwave radio users must halt all radio communications seven days prior to the runoff on Sept. 20 until three days after the Assembly's session ends on Sept. 27.

Only the state's telecommunication institutions, the government-sanctioned Amateur Radio Organization and the Indonesian People's Radio Organization will be allowed to operate during this period, it said.

Anyone violating the ban can be punished with a jail sentence or fine. --JP