Radio silenced during election

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