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Department of Media and Information School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts Community Radio and Grassroots Democracy: A Case Study of Three Villages in Yogyakarta Region, Indonesia Mario Antonius Birowo This thesis is presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University of Technology May 2010 Declaration The work contained in this thesis has not been previously submitted for the degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, this thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself. Signature: Mario Antonius Birowo Date: 20 May 2010 Abstract It has been argued that the most important factor in creating participation for people at grassroots level is accessibility to the media, both as receivers and producers of content (see Rodriguez, 2000; Fraser & Estrada, 2001, 2002; Tabing, 2002; and Dagron, 2001, 2004). In recent years, community radio stations have been mushrooming in Indonesia as a consequence of the democratisation of the media system in post-Soeharto Indonesia. In Indonesia community radio is used by the civil society at grassroots level to empower people who have little opportunity to voice their interests. The characteristics of community radio - size, proximity and openness to participation - provide both forms of access. By providing a forum for capacity building, community radio enhances people’s participation in the decision making process and in the preservation of local cultures in their villages. In fact, at village level the empowerment of people is central to the role of community radio; thus, people in Timbulharjo, Minomartani and Wiladeg have had the opportunity to express their interests. Community radio stations encourage diversity, challenging the tendency of commercial radio to erase cultural differences through their conceptualising of audiences as markets. In this way, community radio accommodates the interests of marginal social groups and draws them into the public sphere. This thesis is about the way in which the Indonesian people’s movement creates grassroots democracy by using community radio as a tool for participating in social communication processes at village level, in particular in Yogyakarta Special Region. The main question is ‘how do people at grassroots level use community radio in the democratic transition in Indonesia?’ Multiple case studies were used in order to build a comprehensive picture of the use of community radio in Indonesia as a tool for promoting participation in local contexts. To discuss its findings this thesis uses participatory communication and public sphere theories. This thesis also considers the civic role of community radio in its responses to earthquake disaster in several regions in Indonesia, where people used the medium of radio to create solidarity to help affected people. i Acknowledgements I owe my deepest gratitude to my supervisors, DR. Antonio Traverso, Professor Colin Brown, Professor Krishna Sen, and DR. Wanning Sun, whose encouragement, guidance, patience and support from the beginning to the end of this study process enabled me to enrich myself and develop an in-depth understanding of the subject. I appreciate their kindness and wisdom in guiding me through those moments of confusion and struggle in the study process. I would particularly like to thank DR. Antonio Traverso for his kindness and patience in supervising me when I was in the final year, Professor Colin Brown for his understanding in encouraging me to finish my study, Professor Krishna Sen for her help to study media and join in Media Asia Research Group in Curtin University. Her support to pursue a scholarship in Australia has convinced me to concentrate in my study, and DR. Wanning Sun for her inspiration to work hard to pursue my academic career. I would like to thank Wendy Sahanaya for her kindness assistance in editing my thesis. She made this thesis more readable. I would like to thank Delia Gigin from Scholarship Office of Curtin who always supported me during my study in Curtin. Her kindness support to me as an awardee of Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and Curtin International Research Scholarship has helped to have a goodtime studying at Curtin University. I would like to thank Johan for his kindness assistance in printing and binding process of my thesis. ii I am grateful to have support from my employer, Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University, in pursuing this PhD study. In particular, I would like to thank Professor Nasikun for his inspiration and encouragement. His affirmation and trust provided me with the impetus to go on even if encountering difficulties. I appreciate all my colleagues in The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University for their support, especially during the time of my study leave. This study would not have been made possible without the participation of and support from the three radio stations. I would also like to thank all the participants in this research study for their sharing and participation: Mas Surowo, Pak Margo, Pak Bambang, Mas Tri Giovani, Romo Isworo SJ, Pak Musiyono, Mbak Unai, Bu Purwanti, Pak Walijan, Mas Kisno, Bu Yosef from Minomartani Community Radio; Mas Jaswadi, Mas Gopek, Mas Nasir, Mas Sarjiman from Angkringan Community Radio; Mas Sukiman from Lintas Merapi Community Radio; late Mas Wijanarko, Mas Sulis, Pak Upik, Pak Sukoco, Pak Muji, Pak Sigit, Pak Siswo Harsono, Bu Sri Sayekti, Pak Subadi, Pak Sumarno, Pak Mubari, Pak Margio from Wiladeg Community Radio; Mas Lilik, Mas Kusumo, Mas Adam, Mas Adink, Mas Imenk, Mas Gepenk, Mas Mart, Mas Bowo, Mas Mardi, Mas Soenandar, Kang Dadang, Kang Hadiyuwono, Ki Gunawan, Bu Dina, Bu Koestini, Mas Ali Pangestu, Bang Hendri Iksan, Pak Paulus, Pak Zainal (late), Mbak Shita Laksmi, Mas Bimo Nugroho, Mas Sarwono, Mas Kadir, Bu Agnes, Pak Kabul, Mas Darmanto, Pak Distyawan, Kang Gagan, Pak Effendy Choirie, Pak Eroll Jonathan, Mbak iii Eny, Mas Hendratmoko, Mas Maxy, Bu Niken, Pak Slamet Mulyadi, and other community radio activists in Indonesia. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude towards my late father, my mother and my family in Yogyakarta and all my friends for their help, support, understanding and encouragement in the process. This thesis I dedicate to my wife, Dyah Maharani, my sons, Filipus Gilang Wicaksono and Christophorus Galang Wijanarko for their love and moral support. I love you so much. iv Notes on Spelling and Translations This thesis uses the Indonesian Spelling Standard (EYD) applied since 1972. This standard is followed for Indonesian words, including personal names and titles of publications, with one exception: personal names throughout the thesis are spelled according to the preferences of the persons named, and Indonesian names of authors in non-Indonesian publications are spelled in accordance with the publication. Indonesian sources in the forms of both interviews and publications are cited in English translation throughout the thesis. Unless otherwise indicated, all translations are mine. v Abbreviations ABRI Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (Armed Forces of Republic of Indonesia) AJI Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (The Alliance of Independent Journalist) AMARC Association Mondiale Des Radiodiffuseurs Communautaires (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters) APIK Arena Pusat Informasi Komunitas (Centre of Community Information Arena) ARRNet Aceh Nias Reconstruction Radio Network ARSSI Asosiasi Radio Siaran Swasta Indonesia (Association of Private Broadcasting Radio Indonesia) BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BBM Balai Budaya Minomartani (Minomartani Cultural Hall) BRV Bataviasche Radio Vereeniging (Batavia Radio Association) CIRVO Chineese en Inheemse Radio Luisteraars Vereeniging Oost Java (Chinese of East Java Radio Association) CRI Combine Resource Institution CSA Council Superieur de l' Audiovisuel DPR Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (People’s Representative Council) DPRD Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (Regional People’s Representative Council) EMRO Eerste Madiunse Radio Omroep (Madiun Radio Association) vi FCC Federal Communications Commission IAMCR International Association of Media and Communication Research ICASA Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Jalin Merapi Jaringan Lintas Merapi (Cross-border Network of Merapi) JRKI Jaringan Radio Komunitas Indonesia (Community Radio Network of Indonesia) JRKY Jaringan Radio Komunitas Yogyakarta (Community Radio Network of Yogyakarta) JRK Jabar Jaringan Radio Komunitas Jawa Barat (Community Radio Network of West Java) JRK Sumbar Jaringan Radio Komunitas Sumatera Barat (Community Radio Network of West Sumatera) JRSP Jaringan Radio Suara Petani (Network of Farmers Community Radio) KAMI Kesatuan Aksi Mahasiswa Indonesia (Indonesian Student Action Front) KBR 68H Kantor Berita Radio 68H (68H Radio News Agency) KOPKAMTIB Komando Operasi Kemanan dan Ketertiban (Operations Command to Restore Security and Order) KPI Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia (Indonesian Broadcasting Commission) KPID Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia Daerah (Regional Indonesian Broadcasting Commission) vii KPU Komisi Pemilihan Umum (General Election Commission). KUT Kredit Usaha Tani (Credit for Farm Enterprise Program) LSPP Lembaga Studi dan Pengembangan Pers (Institute of Development and Study of Press) MAVRO Mataramsche Vereeniging Radio Oemroep (Mataram Broadcasting Radio Association) MKPMI Majelis Keluarga Petani Mandiri Indonesia (Council of Independent

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