An Indonesian radio station run by members of the banned Chinese Falungong spiritual movement said today that it would fight the latest government attempts to shut it down. Radio Erabaru (New Era Radio), which broadcasts general news and entertainment content from Batam island near Singapore, was told this week by the local radio frequency monitoring body to stop broadcasting.
Batam’s radio regulator said in its latest warning that Erabaru, first told to shut down in 2008, was using a frequency allocated to another station. However, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission had previously said the Chinese embassy had complained in 2007 that the radio station has been airing criticism of Beijing.
The Falungong is banned in mainland China and rights group have accused Beijing of persecuting its members.
Erabaru director Raymond Tan said he would resist pressure to shut down and appealed for Indonesian regulators “to be neutral, independent, and not be hampered by anyone”. “What we are fighting here is the freedom of press in Indonesia,” he said.
Commissioner Johny Nelson Simanjuntak from the Indonesian Commission on Human Rights said that Erabaru, which started legal proceedings last year to allow it to stay on air, was facing unfair restrictions.
He said the commission would seek clarification from the Communication and Information Ministry and the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission.
The Chinese embassy could not be immediately reached for comment.
(Source: AFP)
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