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Your letters: On the ban on alcoholic beverages
Of late, people whom we would expect to think and speak rationally, especially some of those who happen to occupy lofty positions, have adopted the thoroughly alarming habit of uttering statements that are not only illogical, but indicate that they are severely intellectually impaired
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f late, people whom we would expect to think and speak rationally, especially some of those who happen to occupy lofty positions, have adopted the thoroughly alarming habit of uttering statements that are not only illogical, but indicate that they are severely intellectually impaired. If they are not, at least they are in urgent need of a more extensive education, to broaden their constricted minds.
If these very people start to draw up bills, like the bill on the prohibition of alcoholic beverages and if these bills are actually approved, then, for the umpteenth time, Indonesia will be the laughing stock of the world.
Those of us who enjoy their beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks in moderation find Article 18 of the booze bill ' which states, 'Any person consuming alcoholic drinks will face three months or two years in prison or a fine of between Rp 10 million and Rp 50 million' ' not only lacking in substance as well as absolutely ridiculous, but also a tortuous interference in our enjoyment of life and human rights.
Will otherwise law-abiding Indonesian citizens (and heaven forbid, hapless foreigners) who happen to enjoy wine or beer in the privacy of their own homes have to live in constant fear of having their dwellings raided by booze vigilantes?
And what about the dire fate that will certainly be awaiting our fellow Indonesians who are fond of consuming arak (rice wine) and tuak (palm wine)? Or those of us who like to make sweet tape ketan (fermented sticky rice), which can contain quite a lot of alcohol when properly prepared? Are we all to be rounded up like cattle and thrown into jail?
Tami Koestomo
Bogor, West Java
I think it's best for Indonesia to adopt a 'catch-all' doctrine that would be specifically tailored to preemptively catch any future political moves made by Islamic fundamentalists. Indonesia needs to adopt and enforce an 'Islamic protection act', which is very similar to Malaysia's strict policy for anyone registering for an identification card.
Anyone who registers for an ID card and indicates their religion as 'Muslim' or 'Islam' is banned and prohibited from entering or working in bars, discotheques, karaoke bistros, massage parlors or any place that serves alcohol.
The purchase of alcohol should only be made illegal for those officially registered as Muslim. The law should mandate that a policy of checking every persons ID must go into effect for all businesses engaged in 'haram activities'.
Even restaurants that serve alcohol should check identification cards and immediately prohibit the entry of anyone that is Muslim. The followers of Islam should only be allowed to engage in activities and be confined to the places that are allowed by their religion.
It will go against the constitution of Indonesia to force people of other faiths to abide by strict Islamic values. Islam is not the only recognized religion in Indonesia, there are others.
The last time I checked, Indonesia is not the 'Islamic Republic of Indonesia'.
Cafesar Dinia
Bali
