T

he Indonesian Broadcast Commission (KPI) media monitoring authority is slated to meet with TV news directors Monday following complaints about “inaccurate” and “insensitive” news coverage of the Mount Merapi eruptions.

A group of volunteers dealing with Merapi’s displaced people sent a formal letter to the KPI, saying that some TV programs had spread undue fear and panic.

“We’ve invited all television stations to discuss this matter,” KPI deputy chairperson Nina Mutmainah told The Jakarta Post Sunday.

Several TV broadcasts have created uneasiness among people living near Merapi. One of the latest TV programs, called Silet, broadcast by TV station RCTI, sparked outrage Sunday after the presenter featured a paranormal saying the volcano would erupt on either Sunday or Monday, and the impact would reach as far as a 65 kilometer radius, well beyond the current 20 kilometer danger zone set by the government.

In a letter sent to the KPI dated Nov. 5, R. Aryo Bilowo, representing a group of volunteers, accused the coverage of violating the commission’s broadcasting rules and causing public uneasiness.

Insensitive interviews and methods of gathering information has become an issue.

Aryo cited several incidents, such as a reporter questioning a victim who had just lost her baby due to respiratory complications, and another person who was questioned about a child suffering through seizures.

Aryo’s letter also recounted an incident in which TV station TVOne broadcast an inaccurate report saying that hot clouds would reach as far as 20 kilometers from Merapi’s peak, but later was said the report was referring to showers of volcanic dust.

The reporting caused panic among residents who were already traumatized, and two people reportedly died in a stampede.

“Basically, the media, especially television, has become the main source of information accessible by the public, so if there is misinformation, a correction should be made immediately to avoid causing panic among residents,” the letter said. The letter also asked the commission to regulate media workers in the area.

KPI’s broadcasting standards stipulate that coverage of natural disasters should take into account the recovery process for those affected. It forbids the media from forcing victims to respond to interviews, or having their pictures taken.

The commission called for television stations to tone down their reporting of the Mentawai and Merapi disasters and refrain from explicit broadcast coverage of victims, Mutmainah said.

“Things improved briefly, but now it looks worrisome again,” she said.

Broadcasting institutions found in violation of the broadcasting standards could face sanctions ranging from official warnings, limitation of broadcasting duration, and even the withdrawal of broadcasting permits.