Say 'no' to the broadcast bill

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