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he Indonesian Press and Broadcast Society (MPPI) have expressed their strong opposition to the proposed new law on the film industry, which they said was authoritarian.

"The current bill is very authoritarian. It is better for the House to deliberate further on the bill to seek inputs from all stakeholders and relevant civil society groups ," Kukuh Sanyoto, the coordinator of MPPI said here on Friday

They said the bill gave too much power to the government, especially the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and to governors, regents and mayors who would be able to interfere in film production, which was expected from the former New Order regime.

The bill stipulates that movie producers have to acquire operational permits from the ministries and local administrations, threatening permit revocation for violators. Before making a movie, a production house must report its plan, the title and scenario to the Ministry and production can only start at least three months after the report has been submitted.

Foreign producers who make movies in Indonesia must also ask permission from the government.

"Book publishing does not need a government license. The same should also prevail for the film industry," he said.

On Wednesday, the Indonesian Movie Community, an association of artists, producers, and directors also protested against the bill, saying the House should suspend endorsing the bill before it sparked mass protests from the general public.

Christine Hakim, a senior actress, said that the acting and film community felt that they had been left out of the discussions on the bill.

Deddy Mizwar, a senior actor and director, also said that if the current bill was passed into law it would certainly kill the movie industry and artists' creativity.

Riri Riza, a prominent film director, said that the community had proposed inputs to replace the contentious provisions on the obtaining of film permits and the proposed censorship system but the House working committee ignored them.