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Indonesia's controversial Criminal Code bill could soon be law. Here are the new crimes
What exactly does the Criminal Code bill outlaw and how does it differ from the current Code?
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The part of the bill that has drawn the most attention over the past few years are the so-called "morality" articles, which, among other things, outlaw consensual sex between unmarried persons, extramarital cohabitation and public "fornication." (kompas.com/Palupi Annisa Auliani)
T
ens of thousands of university students across the country took to the streets on Monday to demand the House of Representatives cancel controversial bills which, if passed, will threaten civil liberties, among other things.
Following the recent passing of the amendment of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, which neutered the antigraft body, lawmakers appear determined to pass the Criminal Code bill into law before the end of the 2014-2019 legislative term, finally concluding a decades-long attempt to revise the 1946 Criminal Code, which itself was based on Dutch colonial law.
While legislators and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly were all smiles after finishing deliberations on the bill last week, activists and experts have been far less positive, saying that the bill will lead to overcriminalization and discrimination against minorities and other vulnerable groups.
Widespread public outcry has led President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to call on the House to delay the passing of the bill, but the House may still push for the bill at the last plenary session of the legislative term on Tuesday.
What exactly does the bill outlaw and how does it differ from the current Criminal Code?
'Morality' articles
The part of the bill that has drawn the most attention over the past few years are the so-called "morality" articles, which, among other things, outlaw consensual sex between unmarried persons, extramarital cohabitation and public "fornication."
