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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John doe (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 9:37am

Stupid Bill for Stupid People,..there are many things to be done in Indonesia other than that !

Adam Goldman (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 9:34am

Where is Soeharto when you need him?? Bring back the military as a ruler of Indonesia and bring back someone who will run the country with a non-fanatic iron fist.

This law ensures that Indonesia will travel down the path to national ignorance and become another target for US missiles just like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Be careful what you wish for you might just get it!!

Sam (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 8:18am

This is one step closer to Shariah law. How long before demonstrations in places like Papua and Bali turn into anti-government rallies? Will the government allow that or violently put down opposition?

What a sad, sad place, indeed.

Wdm — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 8:16am

too labour intensive miles, besides think about the graft and scrutiny.

a better opportunity? forget people smuggling, dope, real estate and other scams....

buy the back catalogue of playboy!! think how much a copy of the last indonesian edition is now worth!

Sad day (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 8:04am

dont worry.. the nature and the world mechanism always has its own mechanism to punish the wrong and especially hypocrites. only acting as moral vanguard but in truth they are the moral rubbish.
for example :
-aceh... the one so proud serambi 'mekkah' acting like a holy bastion for islam in indonesia.. but planting poppy (yeah rite).. got smacked down by tsunami rite
- the US, acting GOD by promoting liberty and make other people suffer by war etc.. now smacked by their own liberal instrument.
- the now~not so popular~ AA "G" also acting like a moral vanguard... and latter.. revelad also a horny pig.. now.. from everything to nothing :D

let see what will happens to my beloved country next... i love my country by i hate most of the stupid people reside on it

Miles, Jakarta (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 7:37am

Well, I was wondering if there were any safe investments what with the global financial crisis - but this is a wonderful opportunity! I shall invest in a business making burqas in a range of traditional batik prints.

Matt murdock (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 7:07am

Hoped the substances of Anti-porn law are comprehended by those who have planned to add more sex scandal in future. They who have such shameful agenda who unfortunately several people among the house member are feeling disadvantageous by the contents of Anti-porn law. No more dangdut singers can be bribed and no more secretary can be harassed. Please for who are feeling glad by this law within the house, try to monitor your colleagues.

Tom P (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 6:55am

The hardliners at DPR are more successful than their predescessors in the 50's, the DI/TIIs. Having failed to wrest control through arms & violence, now they find democacry to be a more effective vehicle, all the while pretending to be loyal to Pancasila.

Just watch. Once being given a slight crack at the door by the gullible and blind lawmakers at DPR, it's just a question of time for a 'peaceful' & 'democratic' takeover. Smart, eh? even the communist has tried that trick but failed.

Porno bill and then what's next? The country?

Nairdah (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 6:33am

A sad day for the freedom of the silent majority of fun loving, independent minded Indonesians.

One hope and consolation is that like so many laws in Indonesia the law will not be enforced by the police and that citizens will not be impacted in their daily lives.

But the real danger now is that extremists have been given a license to terrorise the Indonesian community to enforce their own interpretation of the law. And the police will again stand by leaving people to live in fear.

First you run down the education system, then curtail religious freedom, then every day behaviour is regulated (Porn Bill), then finally, the right to think and speak freely is curtailed. A nation full of people - zombies - who are regulated in every way is available to be manipulated and used by evil doers. Wake up Indonesia, before it is too late.

Paul E. Rantau (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 5:41am

The Anti-pornography law is an overkill. There are laws and regulations in the book that prohibit the sale, distribution and production of pornographic materials. To date these have not been applied. the new law will simply increase the interest of the oversexed people and the prices of these offensive materials.

The children of Indonesia will not be in anyway more protected, if anything they will be more likely to be victimized.

In the meantime the oversexed and immoral men will continue to prey on young girls and even boys, especially those who are financially challenged. Our government, Police and many individuals continue to tolerate child brides, contract marriages, unofficial marriages ('suri marriages'), polygamy (that definitely encourages corruption and truly demeaning to the women and disastrous for the children) which are insidious but politically acceptable to many.

Our legislators should have paid more attention to the more urgent matters such as corruption amongst their numbers, the poor state of our nation and deteriorating economy of Indonesia.

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