Jakarta, NU Online
Eight private television stations have been reported to police by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission for airing programs of a sexual and violent nature.

"Based on this report, we will proceed with legal processes," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said as quoted by AFP.

<>Commission member Ade Armando confirmed the body had made the police report.

"We reported TPI, Lativi, ANTeve, TransTV, TV7, Indosiar, SCTV and RCTI for violating the broadcasting law," Ade said.

"All of them broadcast sexual and violent content," he added, after presenting police with evidence of the broadcasts.

Lativi was reported for programs such as Curhat, Cinta dan Nafsu (Love and Lust), Bisikan Nafsu (Whispering Lust) and Sinetron Sore (Evening Soap Opera).

Trans TV was on the offender list for its programs Dorce Show (Dorce's Show) and TV7 for Fenomena (Phenomenon) and Ketawa Special (Laughter Special).

TPI, meanwhile, was booked for its programs Dewa-Dewi (God and Goddess and Sinema Religi (Religious Film), while private station Indosiar is being taken to task for programs Hitam Putih (Black and White), Misteri Ilahi (Divine Mystery), Laki-laki Buaya Darat (Womanizer), Aku Cemburu 3 (I am Jealous 3).

SCTV was reported for Panggung Hahahihi , Temulawak, and Suratan Takdir, and RCTI for its program Panggung Emas (Golden Stage).

Ade said the commission had sent warning letters to the eight TV stations several times informing them about the nature of their programs, which were deemed in violation of the 2002 Broadcasting Law.

"We also warned them that we would use the evidence we have collected to take legal action," he said.

If the case goes to court, the stations could each face a fine of up to Rp 10 billion (US$1.1 million), while the individuals responsible for those programs could be jailed for up to five years if found guilty.

Sex and violence in the media have been in the spotlight in recent weeks following controversy over a popular U.S. wrestling show and a sex video scandal that forced a senior lawmaker to resign.

Last month, Lativi was forced stop airing the SmackDown show following the death of a child who tried to imitate wrestling moves shown on the program. The boy's death, however, has not been directly linked to injuries he allegedly sustained while mimicking the wrestling show.

TPI spokeswoman Theresia Ellasari declined to comment on the commission's action.

"We just received the report today and we will study it first," she told The Jakarta Post. (tjp/dar)