Indonesia keeps censorship body, orders new film law

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

JAKARTA (AFP) — The Indonesian constitutional court Wednesday turned down a request to abolish the country's censorship body, sparking wild celebrations from hardline Muslims in the public gallery.

But filmmakers who were seeking the abolition of the censorship panel also claimed victory after the court ruled that a new assessment system is "needed urgently" to unlock the country's cinematic creativity.

Constitutional judge Jimly Asshidiqqie ruled that "the current film law is not in line with modern times and there is an urgent need to form a new film law and new film assessment system that is more democratic."

The court decided that the Film Censorship Board, which often cuts violence and sexuality from movies and public television shows, could not be...