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KPI wants power to issue fines for immoral content

Jakarta Post - March 10, 2016

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Jakarta – Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) chairman Judhariksawan said on Tuesday that the KPI needed to expand its ability to sanction broadcasters that offend against public morality.

"We need to fine broadcasters who violate broadcasting codes of conduct and broadcasting standards by airing programs containing violence or pornography," he said.

Government Regulation No. 50 2005 on private broadcasters only regulates fines for television advertisements and broadcasters that do not provide public service announcements. The maximum fine for radio stations is Rp 100 million (US$7,594) and Rp 1 billion for television channels.

Judhariksawan said that based on analysis, fines could have a deterrent effect on broadcasters that violated codes and standards in their programs.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) previously suggested that fines could be regulated explicitly in a revision of the Broadcasting Law. PAN politician Hanafi Rais said that handing down fines would be more effective than simply issuing warnings.

Judhariksawan also acknowledged that the KPI would like an amendment of the Broadcasting Law to stipulate fines. "I personally suggest it be included in the law," Judhariksawan said.

However, the KPI will have to wait for a government regulation or the law to determine the size of fines for violators. "If there is a broadcast containing pornography, the fine should be a large sum of money," he said.

He also expected that the regulation should stipulate the authority that imposed the fines and whether they could be an income source for the KPI. Judhariksawan cited as an example the Public Information Commission (KIP), which has an internal court to impose fines and said the KPI could have that kind of mechanism.

Recently, public concerns have been raised over the depiction of homosexual behavior, transgender performances and indecent female garb on television. The KPI has issued a circular to discourage broadcasters from airing indecent or deviant content.

Previously, Media Regulator and Regulation Observer chairman Amir Effendi Siregar criticized the circular as being too general. He referred to Didik Nini Towok, a prominent male dancer who is dedicated to female dance.

However, Judhariksawan clarified that the circular was not aimed at banning such traditional art but more at programs promoting homosexual or transgender behavior. The KPI simply wanted to give broadcasters a guideline for content that should be restricted or even not aired at all, he said.

"We will invite artists and cultural observers to discuss this matter. We want to explain to them what we mean by issuing the circular and defining what kind of program promotes deviant behavior," he said.

He added that the KPI was an independent institution and wanted to oversee the media without being affected by political or other interests. "We hope that the fines can be deliberated soon in [House] Commission I but we know that fines can have a deterrent effect," Judhariksawan said. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/10/kpi-wants-power-issue-fines-immoral-content.html.