Television Association Rejects Program Criminalization
Friday, 22 December, 2006 | 15:11 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: All members of the Indonesian Private Television Association rejected the violation against Decree No. 32/2002 on Broadcasting as being a criminal act. The legal standing used by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) is viewed as not strong enough to give criminal sanctions.

“There is no detailed definition of the content of the program to be categorized as a crime,” said the association's executive secretary. Gilang Iskandar, when contacted by Tempo on Wednesday night (20/12). KPI took the Article 36 as the basis to give the report to the police.

The Article 26, Paragraph 5-2 says that a television station is forbidden to expose elements of violence, indecency, gambling and abuse of narcotics and illegal drugs. However, in what forms a program is regarded to contain those elements is not explained in detail.

According to Gilang, since October 2004, the Indonesian Private Television Association members have actually agreed to reduce programs with violent and pornographic content. “The commitment was already made,” he said.

However, he acknowledged there are still some stations which violate this. Thus, the Association can understand the strict measure KPI will take. “But don't make the violation a crime case.”

Gilang agreed if the legal standing is a countermeasure mechanism. So monitoring carried out by KPI is not only focused after the shows are broadcast. “There is censorship, both by the station itself internally and from the film censorship agency,” he said.

NININ DAMAYANTI