Walk out mars debate on broadcast draft law

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The deliberation of the controversial broadcasting bill on Wednesday was marred by an incident when legislator Astrid S. Susanto of the Indonesian Nationhood Unity Faction (FKKI) walked out of the conference room in protest against government moves to make some changes to the bill.

The incident prompted the chairman of the special committee on the broadcasting bill, Paulus Widiyanto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), to adjourn the deliberations until Thursday.

It also further illustrated the gloomy prospects for the drafting of a more acceptable and better-thought-out broadcasting law.

"The move of the government to change the bill without consultation is an abuse of power. That's why I am leaving the meeting," Astrid said.

She protested the government's move to make changes to the bill, which had already been agreed upon by a smaller working group at the end of August.

The changes included the insertion of a controversial article that would let the government issue decrees to regulate media syndicates, broadcasting frequencies, foreign media, broadcasting ranges, technical requirements and advertising.

Responding to the incident, State Minister for Communications and Information Syamsul Mu'arif said that the government was only trying to give provide more input for the deliberations.

He revealed that the changes were made to accommodate the aspirations of the Broadcasting Society following a three-day hearing with its members.

"If legislators don't want to accommodate the input, we can continue the discussions without them," said Syamsul, an executive of the Golkar Party.

The working meeting began at 1.30 p.m., half an hour behind schedule. The meeting was supposed to discuss more ideas from the government, but it got tense after several legislators questioned the government's motive in presenting legislators with a new bill.

Legislator Bambang Sadono of Golkar also questioned the inclusion of Article 61 which states that regulations on media syndicates, frequencies, foreign media, broadcasting ranges, technical requirements, advertisement would be further regulated by government decree.

"This is a tricky clause. This is deceitful," Bambang said, adding that there would have to be deep and serious discussions before the bill could be endorsed.

Fellow legislator Effendi Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) said he hoped there would be changes to accommodate the people's aspirations.

Djoko Susilo of the Reform faction said that the minister should simply drop some contentious articles to make the broadcasting bill more acceptable.

He added that the government must also reduce its role in broadcasting activities.

The involvement of the government in broadcasting should only concern frequencies. The government must not interfere with programs, he added.

"I am skeptical that this bill will address those problems," he said.

The deliberation of the bill will resume in the next sitting of the House in November as the House is due to go on a one-month recess starting this Saturday.