Reply to minister's view on TVRI levies

The clarification on TV levies given by Information Minister R. Hartono, as translated into English from Sinar Pagi by The Jakarta Post (Clarification of TV levies, please, Aug. 27), provokes me to make a counterargument.

From a legal viewpoint, pursuant to article 23 of the 1945 Constitution, any compulsory levy imposed on the people by the state shall be based on law instead of presidential decree. According to legal hierarchy, I believe that the constitution is the highest legal instrument.

Yes, it is true, TV levies have been in place for decades and there has been no reluctance on the part of the people to pay such levies because TVRI was then the only television station in the country.

Needless to say, in previous years, people who had TV sets must have been TVRI's audience. Based on this undeniable logic, people willingly paid the levies despite the lack of a legal or enforceable basis.

But things have changed. For the past few years people have had choices in what they want to see. That is one of the logical reason why people are now reluctant to pay levies to a TV station they do not watch. Another possible reason is that we have become more aware of the law. We need laws that clarify our position in society.

Anyway, I detect that the minister's support for the levy is based on his praiseworthy idea: wanting to financially support TVRI so that it will be able to produce better quality programing.

However, do not make great ends justify the means. If you want to give a contribution, that is good. But do not force every single person to do the same as we are different in many ways. Please try to understand the concept of value for money.

You cannot expect customers to be loyal unless you first give them good quality. It is just the way it is.

ANANG FACHRUDIN

Jakarta