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Should
This Medium Be Tamed?
Bhutan
currently has no media or broadcasting laws. Aside from not
allowing pornographic channels, the Bhutanese government cannot
control the television programming it receives. Do Bhutanese
people think this new medium should be regulated?
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Kinley Dorji
editor of Kuensel, Bhutan's only newspaper:
I think the government should introduce some regulation,
not censorship, not control as such, but to regulate what
is being screened. I think this is necessary because Bhutanese
society is not aware of the full impact of television, especially
the possible negative impact of television, especially on
the youth. Today we might have two or three cable operators.
These are business people. These are not even technicians,
but business people who want to sell, and they will broadcast
and they will show anything they want. I think apart from
the obvious issues like violence, sex on television, I think
we have the subtle influences like advertising, and the
long-term impact on values. |
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Lyonpo
Jigmi Thinley
Bhutan's foreign minister:
The government, at the national level, cannot be selective
in regards to deciding and determining and declaring what
channels they have access to, or what programs. It's a wholesale
affair. And when you procure something through a wholesale
arrangement, you have to be prepared to accept the possibility
of some garbage coming in. Television, with all these satellite
dishes that are available, will be difficult to control.
And all we have to do therefore is to hope that the people
will have the wisdom to choose what is good for themselves
and what is good for their children. |
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Dago
Bida
Co-owner of SIGMA Cable, Bhutan's largest cable TV operator:
If we must regulate TV, we must do it now, so that it doesn't
carry on for another five to ten years. Because after that,
there is no going back. We will try and educate the public
and tell them, "Look, see, we have very good channels that
we would like to service you with, and these are not what
we want for our children." I am a mother. I'm a parent.
And I also know that I do not want my children to watch
such programs, you know, programs that are not very nice.
... So as far as possible, I think we can control it at
this point. |
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