Indonesia Bans Parliament's Live Broadcast Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit "Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI)" Nov 16, 1997 Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (The Alliance of Independent Journalists) Jl. PAM Baru Raya No.16, Pejompongan, Jakarta Pusat 10210 INDONESIA PROTEST AGAINST THE BANNING OF PARLIAMENT'S LIVE BROADCAST The Alliance of Indonesian Journalists is protesting against Information Minister R. Hartono's decision to ban two private tv channels, ANteve and SCTV from broadcasting live the plenary session between the People's Representative Council and the Finance Minister last Monday, Nov. 10. ANteve and SCTV had obtained a permission from the Speaker of the House to broadcast live. People also welcomed the goodwill of the two stations, especially the Minister would give an open statement about the economic reform package, which include the liquidation of 16 banks, of which were belong to President Suharto's family members. The economic reform package is part of the International Monetary Fund's aid, trying to recover the monetary crisis after the plunge of rupiah value. Suddenly, the night before, the Director of Television and Information, Aziz Husain, called the two tv stations, prohibiting the most-awaited broadcast. According to ANteve News Manager, H. Azkarmin Zaini, they receoved the call on Sunday night, around 10 p.m. Don Bosco, the assignment editor of SCTV's Liputan 6, said that they received the similar call 2 hours later, around midnight. Hartono told the reporters that he based his decision in the Broadcasting Law (UU Penyiaran No. 24/1997), which was passed a few months ago. Hartono said private tv channels cannot broadcast live from the House, only TVRI can. In fact, no chapters in that bill regulate live broadcasts from the House. The only thing is private tv channels are allowed to broadcast live together with the state tv station, TVRI. This case is a serious violation of freedom of the press, freedom to obtain and spread information and the society's rights to know. Moreover, to legitimate the action, Hartono manipulated the law. This also shows that the Press Basic law (UU Pokok Pers, No. 21/1982) and the Broadcasting Law (UU Penyiaran No.24/1997) are effective on the paper only, has no power in front of the government, and even becomes a tool to legitimate the government's decision. Once more, AJI declares its protests to that unfortunate case. AJI also calls the government to stop all kinds of press censorship, regulation and pressure, for the sake of the press freedom, freedom to obtain and spread information and the society's rights to know, as stated by the 1945 Constitution and the Press and Broadcasting Law. Jakarta, November 11, 1997 Lukas Luwarso President Dadang RHs Secretary Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (The Alliance of Independent Journalists) Office: Jl. PAM Baru Raya No.16, Pejompongan Jakarta Pusat 10210 INDONESIA Tel/Fax: (62-21) 572-7018, E-mail: jurnalis@idola.net.id ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-11.23.97-18:38:34-6940