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House passes controversial anti-porn bill
Ati Nurbaiti , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 10/30/2008 2:14 PM | Headlines
Cries of joy and shouts of Alhamdullillah (praise God) came from
the balcony of the House of Representatives' plenary hall as the gavel
was struck to mark the passage of the controversial bill on pornography.
Compared to those who supported the bill, those who opposed it only
occupied two rows on the balcony towards the end of the meeting.
Pro anti-porn law activist Lasmiantini of Salima (Muslim sisterhood)
said, "Insyaallah" (God willing), Indonesians will eventually
undergo a moral revival -- the basis of a country, and
later economic revival."
"We are very happy with the result of our struggle to protect children,
and also to protect women," said Lasmiantini, of several groups who
supported the pornography bill.
"If our husbands are (exposed to) pornography then our families will be destroyed."
"Now our children are safe," said Lasmiantini, chairwoman of Salima's Bekasi chapter.
With exposure to pornography contributing to instances of rape and
murder, the country was no longer safe for women and children, she said.
Lasmiantini said, under the new law, sinetron (popular television
serials) would have to be those "of quality" and contribute moral
value, such as the recent hit 'Laskar Pelangi' (Rainbow Troops) --
referring to the movie based on Andrea Hirata's biography of his
childhood.
In response to questions of whether she feared any excessive
implementation of the new law, while justifying state interference in
private matters, she said, "for good things, like an injection, people
are negative about it only because they fear it will hurt."
The activists cited revisions to the bill which they said would
guarantee that only pornography in the public sphere was regulated.
Meanwhile, Save Indonesian Children (ASA Indonesia) chairwoman
Wuryaningsih and a Salima leader both said, "We should work together to
watch out for any excesses."
"The law may not be perfect but it is a start ... We must protect our families," she said.
"We really hope that the (pornography) industry can be regulated."
In response to fears among women that they would become unwitting
victims of the law, Wuryaningsih said the issue of women was only
"political," as if Islamic parties were not behind the law.
"This has nothing to do with the Islamic parties," Wuryaningsih said.
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Pandu Truhandito (not verified) — Thu, 03/19/2009 - 5:54pm
"If our husbands are (exposed to) pornography then our families will be destroyed." - that's just wrong. to claim that families WILL break up as a necessitated consequence of pornography is completely untrue. It MAY happen but it certainly not a necessary condition for a family breakage
Miscellaneous (not verified) — Wed, 12/24/2008 - 11:12am
For those of you who are paranoid, and/or blind towards the truth your government.
The people of every government controls the government, it's NEVER the other way around unless the majority chooses to let that happen, unless the majority choose otherwise. It's up to the citizens to make sure that the government is not working behind the citizen's backs. Now, every government will always do what its citizens want it to do. In other words, if the government wants to help the people. From time to time every government has those kinds of people who do dirty work, but that's in every government, and there's no way to stop it without slowing down the government severely in one way, or another.
Pornography has been related to rape in several, to almost every case in every current self sustaining government, and that is why this bill was passed. Consider your selves fortionate that you are the first to be cleansed of that, of which is in my opinion, and many others, nonsense. This will surely decrease the cases of rape, and sooner, or later you will all be grateful for the bill. Only those who go against it are those that are possible rapists in my book. Besides, if it is truly a wrong step, or the majority of your fellow citizens are against the bill than it either would not have passed, or it will not last long.
Face the facts, and get over it
Jade (not verified) — Thu, 11/06/2008 - 3:39pm
Right.. and when the bill is imposed then Indonesia will suddenly turn into a first world country. When the nation's office bearers are no longer able to access porn from the internet then the cabinet will suddenly be corruption free. When the bare-breasted goddesses in Prambanan are covered in burqa then every malnutritioned child suddenly becomes chubby bouncy babies.
AY (not verified) — Thu, 11/06/2008 - 9:00am
Fact is, to apply an anti-porn bill in the now complicated stature of indonesian society is, im sorry to say; arrogant. Making up excuses that women and children are in danger because of pornographic influence that is uncommon in indonesian society clearly shows lack of education amongst indonesians. Apparently, the passing of the bill is due to failure of understanding the various effects of the bill to society and the inability to understand the current state of our countrymen. What were they thinking? To ban pornography to this extent means that it will leave unemployment rates to sky rocket.
Did you really think that there are that much employment opportunities all around indonesia? The house should have come up with a bill that controls and regulate pornography and promote education rather than turning away to existent civic problems. Why? because this displays incompetence among house members. I apologize for being so blatant, however, the house of representatives have to shape up for the better and they must not allow ignorant views who have no idea of the impact they will cause, to interfere with the welfare of others. Right now, i'm not confident that they have any idea of how the bill will affect the lives of so many indonesians who think that the anti-porn bill is good "bagus" when in fact, they are oblivious of their own well being. Solution? Education.
Andrew2410 — Wed, 11/05/2008 - 6:03pm
For the sake of clarity, we should see the law makers walk through the ladies wear section of Matahari accompanied by a TVRI news team and indicate which items of clothing are considered pornographic, and which ones are safe. What a joke this is.
Andrew
Miguel (not verified) — Wed, 11/05/2008 - 1:01pm
Could anyone provide in a blog or a website a complete name list -with recent photos- of all politicians or leaders who voted in favor or supported the "anti-pornographic" law? Is not revenge at all. Pure consistency: The world needs a public list to ban this individuals to entry countries or places where "moral values" are not in the line of this legislators or religious leaders. From now they must stay at homes with their wives and children to pray and educate their children to protect their own families.
Mark Century (not verified) — Tue, 11/04/2008 - 2:34pm
How sad for you all that an anti-porn bill has passed.
Have you not studied history enough to know:
Government = Violent Force
You have invited the evil tyranny of government to intrude on your personal lives and all aspects of society.
Free people are always free to live as morally as their religious beliefs and personal values guide them to live. Now you are all less free and I promise you that this will turn to your shame and your increased enslavement.
It is those that would enslave you that have beguiled you into embracing laws that give the government license to control you.
You say you are protecting your children? To your eternal shame you are enslaving your children!
Andrew2410 — Wed, 11/05/2008 - 6:05pm
Very well said Mark. Amen. Andrew
Jusef Rizal (not verified) — Tue, 11/04/2008 - 9:05am
I believe once the larger public starts to become aware of what this bill actually means, when they start to see women getting harassed and attacked for wearing tank tops and miniskirts, when they see artists having their works and lives destroyed, then I think critical consensus will turn and we can expect to see massive protests.
But let's not even allow it to come to that. I call upon all the journalists and rational citizens of Indonesia to prevent the spread of "pornography" as the bill asks, but make your targets all the politicians who supported this bill. Let's investigate their private lives and expose their hypocrisy! Let's find out how many "pornographic" works of art decorate their homes, listen in on their conversations and call the police when you hear a dirty joke or off-color remark. Expose their hypocrisy in public, then we will see this law repealed very quickly indeed...
Debugger (not verified) — Mon, 11/03/2008 - 9:05pm
I suppose now, after this bill has been passed, all the government officials in charge of religious affairs, must check their partner's hand phone so it doesn't have a camera in it before they enter the hotel room for a short stay.