Radio station forced off the air

Radio station forced off the air

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Surakarta-based radio station PTPN Rasitania
was silent on Wednesday after it was forced to suspend
broadcasting after airing a talk show that some accused of being
blasphemous.

The radio station aired an interview with Priest Ahmad Wilson
on Feb. 24 who alleged that Prophet Muhammad was a Christian
before becoming a Muslim prophet. He also said there were many
similarities between the Koran and the Bible.

The interview provoked an outcry and a rowdy protest from the
Surakarta Islamic Youth Front (FPIS) at the radio station.

In a bid to ease the tension, police mediated in talks between
the radio station and FPIS along with local Muslim figures.

They agreed that the radio station would suspend all
broadcasts for a week starting from March 4.

The radio station also agreed to print a public apology in
five local newspapers for five consecutive days from March 3.

Surakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Robby Kaligis said there was
no formal ban stopping the radio station from broadcasting.

"It was based on a mutual agreement made to avoid further
tension in the community," he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

He also said that Priest Ahmad Wilson was being detained by
police for allegedly violating Article 156a of the Criminal Code
on religious contempt.

Rasitania's marketing director Ig. Hananto Sumarno said the
suspension was losing the station some Rp 7.5 million a day.

Meanwhile the local chapter of the Alliance of Independent
Journalists (AJI) sent a written statement to police on Wednesday
protesting the suspension.

"The radio station was forced to accept the 'agreement' in a
bid to avoid the possibility of anarchic actions." (swa/01)