Say 'no' to the broadcast bill

I wish to comment on the government's plan to pass the broadcasting bill proposed by the House of Representatives (DPR). As one of the students who took part in the struggle for reformation in 1998, I am very disappointed and am calling for all public elements to reject the proposed bill. In my opinion these bills were deliberately made to limit people's access to information, which will in turn perpetuate the leaders' power. Consequently, the contents of the bill are not in line with the spirit of democracy and would certainly endanger democratic life and make the public look foolish. This is akin to the style of the New Order regime.

If the government really wants to make new broadcasting laws, it should take three objectives into consideration for the sake of the general public:

1. The government should be able to provide the rural society with easier and cheaper access to information; for example, enabling the rural community to enjoy newspapers and libraries, and if possible providing these facilities for free.

2. The government should try to help people living in remote areas to have the same rights as other people so that they can enjoy the same information.

3. The government should try to encourage people living in the far flung corners of this country to read and learn.

In my opinion, the main objectives of the laws and the Department of Communications and Information should be to enlighten the public, not limit or ban the freedom of the press, which we have been enjoying since the reform era. There have been no actions taken by the media that could be considered to have harmed the interests of the public.

However, since the reform era, their actions have been regarded as something which can and will undermine the interests of corruptors and their cronies, including the executives and those in the legislature and judiciary. These places have so far become the dens of corruptors.

Although we are armed with the freedom of the press that we are enjoying now, we have not been able to curb the blatant acts of rampant corruption in this country. The presence of the new laws would certainly make things worse. I do hope that the government will think wisely for the people. We want our leaders to have a long stay in office because of their spectacular achievements, not because of manipulation or corruption.

HELMIZAN SAKRANI, Jakarta