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)