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Officials in Batam, Riau Islands, say that Era Baru Radio will remain off the air, despite a court decision clearing the way for the station to resume broadcasting Falun Gong teachings.

Batam Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Center (Balmon) chief Mohammad Sopingi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that he was not aware of the Supreme Court decision on Aug. 29 that upheld Era Baru Radio’s right to broadcast on a frequency that was earlier reassigned to Sing FM Radio.

“The Supreme Court does not know that Era Baru Radio is illegal. How can a radio station illegally air programs and then file a lawsuit contesting the legitimate issue of a frequency by the government?” Sopingi said.

“Its capacity to file a suit is very much questionable. The management of the radio station has been found guilty [in court]. We will take action against Era Baru Radio if it dares to broadcast again without a permit.”

Era Baru Radio was previously denied a broadcast license by the Riau Islands branch of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID) and the Communications and Information Ministry, which cited spectrum crowding.

Sopingi denied that the decision was motivated by intervention by China, which has lodged protests with the Foreign Ministry against Era Baru Radio since it started broadcasting in 2007, concerned about its support for Falun Gong, which is banned in China.

“We have proceeded with the criminal process because the radio station has used the frequency without a permit. This is purely based on the law and there has been no pressure from any party, including the Chinese government, for us to close the radio station,” Sopingi said.

Under the broadcasting law, the station’s managers could be sentenced to two years’ imprisonment if found guilty of broadcasting without a permit.

Era Baru Radio was closed by Balmon on March 24, 2010, which confiscated its broadcast equipment. The station resumed broadcasting with new equipment before Balmon again closed it in October 2011.

Era Baru Radio director Raymond Tan said on Wednesday that the Supreme Court’s ruling cleared the way for the station to resume broadcasting, claiming that the station has been independent.

“The radio station is purely financed by its owner and not by Falun Gong. Falun Gong is a non-profit organization and it never collects fees from its members. How could they finance the radio station?” Raymond, who is also a Falun Gong activist, said.

Separately, Riau Islands KPID head Jamhur Poti said the commission could not issue a recommendation for Era Baru Radio to be issued a permit because its broadcasts did not accord with previously specified plans.

“Ideally, a radio station should only air between 15 and 20 percent of its programs in a foreign language, but Era Baru Radio aired 30 percent of its content in a foreign language. We didn’t understand what was aired because the KPID is not equipped with experts to translate program contents,” Jamhur said.

Raymond, however, wanted to know why several other private radio stations were cleared to broadcast by the KPID and Balmon.

“We are not allowed to air, while a number of new radio stations have emerged and aired. This is very hurtful for us,” said Raymond.

 L'Indonésie n'a pas l'intention d'expulser les diplomates syriens, mais souligne l'importance des négociations et du dialogue pour résoudre la crise, selon le ministre indonésien des Affaires étrangères Marty Natalegawa, cité vendredi par les médias locaux.

"Nous n'avons pas l'intention d'expulser qui que ce soit. Nous sommes convaincus que, dans cette situation difficile, nous devrions plutôt intensifier les discussions et le dialogue", a déclaré M. Marty, ajoutant que l'expulsion des diplomates n'était pas une bonne forme de protestation contre le régime syrien.

Selon M. Marty, son ministère a convoqué jeudi l'ambassadeur par intérim de Syrie en Indonésie pour expliquer la position de Jakarta sur la situation dans ce pays du Moyent-Orient.

"Notre position reste ferme depuis le début. Nous condamnons toute forme de violence contre des civils", a indiqué M. Marty, ajoutant qu'ils avaient également discuté l'avenir des relations entre les deux pays.

Plusieurs pays, dont les Etats-Unis, la Grande-Bretagne, la France et l'Allemagne, ont expulsé les ambassadeurs et les diplomates syriens, pour protester contre le massacre horrible perpétré il y a quelques jours dans le village de Houla en Syrie.

Au moins 108 civils, dont 49 enfants, auraient été tués dans le massacre de Houla, qui a été considéré comme l'un des incidents les plus meurtriers dans les agitations de 15 mois contre le régime du président Bachar al-Assad.

 © Chine Informations.

Indonesia's brutal attack on West Papuan rally

Shocking scenes of Indonesia’s brutal suppression of a West Papuan rally on October 19, 2011.

©SBS TV/West Papua Media

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Updates

16 November 2011 "Shocking video confirms Indonesia's brutal suppression of West Papuan rally ahead of US visit," by Survival Internaional

22 October 2010 "Indonesian government admits its soldiers tortured Papuans," by Survival International

2 August 2010 "US Congressman call on Obama to intervene in Papua 'genocide'," by Radio New Zealand International

January 2010 "Beyond Genocide: Illumination #11," by 20th Century Illuminations

11 September 2009 "Australia hopes new East Timor inquiry won't hurt Jakarta ties," by The Associated Press

1 September 2009 "Jakarta bombings suspect held," by Al Jazeera

27 August 2009 "Noordin Top's Support Base," by International Crisis Group

25 June 2009 "What Did I Do Wrong?," by Human Rights Watch

24 July 2009 "The Hotel Bombings," by International Crisis Group

14 June 2009 "Indonesia 'War Crimes' General Prabbowo Subianto Seeks Election" by Michael Sheridan and Dewi Loveard, The Sunday Times

26 May 2009 "Impunity of Dutch Massacre in Indonesia was Given 60 Years Ago" by NRC Handelsblad International

20 May 2009 "Indonesia: Radicalisation of the "Palembang Group"" by International Crisis Group

25 April 2009 "Indonesia's Voters Retreat From Radical Islam" by Norimitsu Omishi, The New York Times

9 April 2009 "Democracy in Indonesia: The Next Test" by Peter Gelling, The New York Times

8 April 2009 "Indonesia: Release Elections Critics, Investigate Violence" by Human Rights Watch

26 March 2009 "Indonesia: Release Peaceful Protesters Jailed for Raising a Flag" by Amnesty International

11 September 2008 "Norwegian government-- Rio Tinto's Papua mine 'unethical'" by Survival International

7 October 2005 "In Indonesia, Songs Against Terrorism," by Kyai haji Abdurrahman Wahid and Holland Taylor in the Washington Post

5 October 2005 "In Indonesia, Democracy isn't Enough," by Scott Atran in the New York Times

7 July 2008 "Implications of the Ahmadiya Decree," by International Crisis Group

16 June 2008 "Communal Tensions in Papua," by International Crisis Group

10 June 2008 "Reverse Ban on Ahmadiyah Sect," by Human Rights Watch

10 June 2008 "President Of Indonesia Restricts Muslim Sect," by Peter Gelling, The New York Times

5 June 2008 "Indonesia Cracks Down on Extremists," by Peter Gelling, The New York Times

30 August 2005 "Indonesia to Give Amnesty to 2,000 Rebels," by The New York Times

16 May 2008 "UN body criticizes 'widespread' torture by Indonesian police, military ," by The Associated Press

15 August 2005 "In Signing Accord, Indonesia and Rebels Hope for Peace," by Evelyn Rusli, The New York Times

18 July 2005 "Indonesia and Separatists Reach Deal to End 30 Years of Fighting," by Evelyn Rusli, The New York Times

17 July 2005 "Indonesia Settles With Aceh Rebels," by Evelyn Rusli, The New York Times

14 June 2005 "The Madrassa Myth," by Peter Bergen and Swati Pandey, The New York Times

29 July 2004 "INDONESIA: RADICAL CLERIC TO ESCAPE BALI CHARGES," by The Associated Press

16 January 2004 "Ex-General to Make Run for President of Indonesia," by Jane Perlez, The New York Times

21 August 2003 "Jakarta rights tribunal buries E. Timor atrocities," by Aboeprijadi Santoso, The Jakarta Post.

17 August 2003 "Troops shoot dead 11 suspected rebels in Aceh in fresh violence," The Agence France Presse. 

12 August 2003 "Woman activist on trial for treason in Indonesia's Aceh province," The Agence France Presse. 

11 August 2003 "Militant Islamic Congress Is Sparsely Attended in Indonesia," by Jane Perlez, The New York Times

7 August 2003 "Terror in Indonesia," by the Washington Post

6 August 2003 "EAST TIMOR: GENERAL CONVICTED," by Reuters

30 July 2003 "Talk of Aiding Indonesia Military Angers Ambush Survivors," by Dana Priest, The Washington Post

28 July 2003 "Impunity in Indonesia," by Russell Feingold in the Washington Post

25 June 2003 "INDONESIA: JOURNALIST LEAVES ACEH REBELS," by Jane Perlez, The New York Times

24 July 2003 "Despite Advances, Indonesia Offensive Uncertain," by Alan Sipress, The Washington Post 

19 July 2003 "INDONESIA: REPORTER FACES CHARGES," by Reuters

18 July 2003 "INDONESIA: TROOPS BATTLE ACEH REBELS," by The Agence France-Presse

15 July 2003 "INDONESIA: BLAST AT PARLIAMENT," by The New York Times

9 July 2003 "Indonesia Says Drive Against Separatists Will Not End Soon," by Jane Perlez, The New York Times

2 July 2003 "Indonesian Suggests Forming Militias," by The Associated Press

5 June 2003 "Indonesian Troops Kill German Tourist," by The Associated Press

31 May 2003 "U.S. Steers Indonesia Away From War Against Separatists," by Jane Perlez, The New York Times

20 May 2003 "Major Military Attack Unfolds Against Rebels in Indonesia," by The Associated Press

6 May 2003 "Indonesia Preparing Crackdown on Rebels," by The Associated Press

6 April 2003 "Rights Groups Fault Indonesian Tribunal," by Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post

2 March 2001 "EU 'appalled and saddened' by violence in Indonesia," by the Agence France Presse 

29 February 2001 "Witnesses Detail Slaughter Of 118 Madurese on Borneo," by Rajiv Chandrasekaran in the Washington Post

27 February 2001 "Dayaks Loot and Burn City As Borneo Violence Spreads," by Rajiv Chandrasekaran in the Washington Post

26 February 2001 "Borneo Violence 'Out of Control'," by Rajiv Chandrasekaran in the Washington Post

24 February 2001 "Savage Attacks Terrorize Migrants on Borneo," by Rajiv Chandrasekaran in the Washington Post

2001 "Genocide Alert: Genocidal Massacres in Indonesian Borneo," by The International Campaign to End Genocide