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Porn bill passed despite protests
Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/31/2008 8:00 AM | Headlines
MORALITY OR POLITICS: Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Prosperous Peace Party (FDS), who opposed the controversial bill, leave the assembly room before the vote. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the contentious anti-pornography bill, defying months of protest from artists, pluralists and human rights groups.
Two of 10 factions in the House, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), boycotted a plenary session to endorse the modified bill that criminalizes all works and acts deemed obscene and capable of breaching public morality.
The passage of the bill was quickly slammed by human rights and pluralist organizations, as well as several provinces opposed to it.
They claim the law threatens national unity, discriminates against minority groups and women, and harms pluralism and diversity in the country.
Just minutes after the plenary session opened, PDI-P and PDS legislators interrupted the forum and subsequently walked out of the House in protest at the bill.
Also boycotting the session were two Balinese legislators from the Golkar Party, Lisnawati Karna and Gede Sumarjaya Linggih. They each interrupted the meeting and walked out of the room while their party read out its approval of the bill.
“We agree we must protect our nation from pornography, but we can’t accept the substance of this bill. Thus we are not responsible for it,” PDI-P faction chairman Tjahjo Kumolo said after leaving the session.
Carol Daniel Kadang of the PDS said the House was in too much of a hurry to pass the bill and that procedurally it should have consulted first with each province rejecting the bill.
Women in Muslim attire cheer shortly after members of the House of Representatives vote by an overwhelming majority to pass the anti-pornography bill during a plenary session in Jakarta on Thursday. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
Hundreds of spectators, mainly supporters of the bill, gave the session an air of religious fervor. Along with several legislators, they clapped and shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), each time a legislator voiced support for the passage of the bill.
As House Speaker Agung Laksono banged his gavel to officially pass the bill into law, they clapped and shouted even louder.
“This is what we need to fight pornography. This law will complete our legal system to protect us from pornographic materials,” Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni said.
People’s Consultative Assembly chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid, a member of the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) that championed the bill, said the law would not discriminate against any section of society.
Nor will it spark violence, he added in all sincerity.
The bill’s opponents say its approval smacks of political machinations ahead of the 2009 elections, most likely to boost support among the predominantly Muslim voter base for the parties backing the bill.
“This (bill) only shows that the House and the government have politicized morality and religion and are just using them as a means of retaining power,” National Commission for Women’s Protection chairwoman Kamala Chandrakirana said in a statement.
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika and North Sulawesi Governor SH Sarundajang, ardent opponents of the bill, vowed to continue opposing the new law.
“We will continue opposing the porn law because this has been our stance from the very beginning,” Pastika told reporters in Denpasar.
Contentious articles in the porn bill:
1. Article 1: Definition
Pornography is drawings, sketches, illustrations, photographs, texts, voices, sound, moving pictures, animations, cartoons, poetry, conversations, gestures, or other forms of communicative messages through various kinds of media; and/or performances in front of the public, which may incite obscenity, sexual exploitation and/or violate moral ethics in the community.
Feared impact:
The definition is open to all kinds of interpretation, such as how to define gestures that incite obscenity or sexual exploitation, and will be subject to debate.
2. Articles 20-23: Public Participation
The public can play a role in preventing the production, distribution and use of pornography...by...(d) supervising people on the danger of pornography.
Feared impact:
This article could be used by certain groups to take the law into their own hands by attacking people they believe are violating the law.
3. Articles 8, 34, 36: Criminalization of victims
The articles threatens up to 10 years in prison or Rp 5 billion in fines for violators of the law.
Feared impact:
Artists or models in art shows or productions could be punished for their creativity.
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Miguel (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 6:18pm
Who can anticipate few years ago Indonesian politicians from the fundamentalist Islamic corner could finish at least one concrete thing in such a record time.
This Porn Law approval illustrates something very deep: Indonesians can be very pro-active, well organized, focused-mind and fast when they want to achieve a mission -worthless or not.
Maybe many international donors or agencies, foundations, foreign investors, tourists will decide not to come, support, spend or invest in Indonesia. But who really cares if morality values will be preserved so strongly in the world's Muslim majority country?
Probably another good thing for this country is that can become object of international research by sociologists, psychiatrics and paleontologists interested in prehistoric behavior analyzing and learning about a stone-age society in the 21 century.
Nobody can complaint now. Legislators on behalf of Muslim religious organization and Indonesians -including PKS- have decided democratically to resolve all moral problems of the country.
Now that the Indonesian Porn bill have been passed, I suggest its supporters to request from their representatives and the Government further firm coherence and consistent regulations to really believe Indonesia is serious, committed and structured to fight pornography and protect morality, which clearly -as results illustrates- seem much more important than battling poverty, corruption, bad nutrition, public health, lack of infrastructure, clean environment, social and cultural development and so on.
Currently, Indonesia has a national legislation to fight pornography that means a total annihilation of arts including poetry, photography, documentary, traditional dances -such as Bali dance- that will be considered -now- against the law if promotes sexual exploitation or "obscenity" whatever does means. But again: who cares about arts if moral defense is Indonesia new flag?
Now every Indonesian will be empowered to have an additional income becoming a law enforcer by attacking women and/or tourists to monitor their conversations or "gestures", otherwise they will be denounced for "obscene behavior". In current times of scarcity this will mean in concrete an incentive for new "business opportunities" to take advantage of expats. The problem for Indonesians is that "foreign clients" will not last forever.
To help the Porn law enforcement shopping malls and retailers will ban brands associated with lingerie, make-up, clothing, books, music, etc. since the extremists groups will be watching for "clients" with big wallets. Do not worry ladies, lovers or mistress of influential politicians: you will be able to keep buying sexy lingerie or whatever you want to.
This law will be applied against the poor -the forgotten majority population of the country-, the expats (bules) and naive tourists. The line for foreigners will be something like: "Sorry Mister... give me money or I call the police: I saw you kissing your friend". Who will refuse to pay if you have already bought a bikini for your wife and your airplane leaves in few hours?
Now -like in radical Middle East countries- to exhibit a shoulder or a neck will be strongly punished as a criminal offense of the Porn Law. Legislators shouldn't forget to remain Indonesians to avoid parties and weddings in which attractive Javanese-Muslim use miniskirts.I've seen many of them at elegant parties.
Another economic output is that local policemen will increase their salaries just by waiting outside parties or bars to fine women and/or bules. In connection with this business more food trolleys owners will increase their business feeding hungry policemen working overnight.
In sum, after few years from now of "cleaning up" obscenity, Indonesian Government would be able to claimed itself as the Moral Leader of the Eastern World.
Unfortunately, investors, donors, expatriates, international agencies, and tourists will not have the honor and privilege to assist to such as revolutionary social and economic change in Indonesia for the good of the people.
Many of us will have gone or moved to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, China, India, Japan and other destinations in Asia where obscenity, arts, music flourishes everywhere you go.
Good luck Indonesians with your bright and prosperous future!
John wilfred (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 1:18pm
the end of free indonesia.
welcome to hell
Arch (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 8:08am
Im Indonesian, but in my whole life, I never ever think about the law of Indonesia since most of it are stupid and ridiculous. Again... and again.... when will my government bored of making these things??? WELL well well... lets see... will this law rule Indonesia for more than a month? if it is so... ILL give a big clap.
Silent Brain (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 7:56am
Indonesia has many uneducated people that do many stupid things. Why, because the goverment does not provide free education to its people.
Do the math... Statistically, uneducated people typically have twice the children that educated people do. So the more stupid people there are the more that are made.
PT (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 7:31am
With or without porn bill, the region such as Aceh will behave according to the shariah. Why we must impose such bill ? Let's the region itself decide what the best interest for their people.
Annisa R. Beta (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 7:18am
Let us register HOR members to culture class...
or maybe even a language class...
so they will realize how ambiguous the bill is and how many future problems are ready to be produced...
Sam (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 7:02am
Sharia law is next. How long before women must be covered head to toe like Afghanistan? Most worrying is that the government EXPECTS vigilantes to enforce this ridiculous "law".
Vinque (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 1:52am
Hello traitors of pancasila!! Goodbye Indonesia!! And now destroy every biography of Sukarno too. Indonesia fell in the trap of political islam. There we have it.
StephBoy (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 11:51pm
Oh well what can i say indonesian government are thinking more about their pockets than actually thinking about the well being of the Indonesian people. They would rather be spending time in the House 'DPR' discussing useless stuff and limiting other people freedom of speech so that they can have more freedom doing their activities under the table.
Reza biki (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 10:33pm
Indonesia in the year 2050 = Moslem Only, Woman with Headcover and long skirt (no right to speak or vote, stay at home, like Afghanistan), Pedophiles act are protected by Law of Moslem, Corruption is a way of life, Jakarta and all other Capitals will be changed into Nationwide-Prison, Business shut down, Foreign Investment Flee, Irian Jaya (Koteka) people are in Prison, Balineese Tourists and anyone with 'Kemben' are in prison, Dangdut-Entertainers are in Prison, No Education, No Money.