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The tactic at work here is a familiar one, with the law's proponents advancing a specific agenda under the cloak of an appeal to various "common values." We've seen this before with respect to concepts like "human rights," "respect for women," and "respect for religion." But in this case, a significant number of people aren't buying it. "Indonesia, sharia behind anti-pornography law," by Mattias Hariyadi for AsiaNews, September 17:
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - There is no let-up in the chorus of protests from Indonesian religious minorities and ethnic groups, against the possible approval of the "law against pornography", better known as the Undang-undang Pornografi. They claim that the new norm, under consideration in parliament, which has been asked to decide whether to approve it by September 23, brings "national unity" into serious danger, and wipes out "cultural and religious differences" by eliminating "pluralism" and fostering "social discord". But what is most worrying to the minorities and ethnic groups is the danger that the law on pornography is concealing an attempt by the more fundamentalist branch of Islam to introduce sharia, Islamic law.
The areas in which non-Muslim ethnicities and groups are most concentrated are the eastern islands of the country, including the island of Bali, which has a Hindu majority; the Sulawesi, which have a Protestant and Catholic majority; the Moluccas, which are also equally divided between Protestants and Catholics; Papua, which has a Catholic majority, as does East Nusa Tenggaral; Borneo, divided between Catholics and Protestants, and other districts of North Sumatra and West Nusa Tenggara.
The fear is that the proposed law could spread a climate of "anarchy", because it does not define precisely what can be maintained as "contrary to morality", and above all what are the "criteria" to be adopted in order to establish whether "a behavior or an artistic/cultural expression" should be censored. Chapter 21 of the draft law also leaves "free rein" for preventing possible immoral acts: "This is an especially dangerous point", emphasizes Eva Kusuma Sudari of the Indonesian Democratic Struggle Party (PDIP), a nationalist group that has always opposed the law. "This allows people to be manipulated in order to promote anarchy and social conflicts in the country", while fundamentalist Islamic groups would have free rein to destroy nightclubs or other gathering spots under the pretext of "preserving the purity of the holy month of Ramadan".
The most serious criticisms are directed at the Indonesian Islamic Defender Front (FPI), responsible in the past for violent acts and, thanks to the new law, ostensibly authorized to exercise the role of "moral police" and punish any dissent or behavior contrary to radical Islamic ethics.
In order to protect pluralism and prevent the adoption of sharia, the nationalist party (PDIP), together with the Christian Peace and Prosperity Party and the Democrat Party, has begun a series of demonstrations calling for the rejection of the proposed law. This, the minorities claim, under the pretext of establishing what can be defined as "pornographic material", is in reality aimed at promoting the "rigid observance of Islamic law".
Sharia would be applied not only to DVDs, films, and performances that are "obscene" or contrary to "morality", but would end up censoring expressions and traditions that are rooted in some parts of Indonesia: on the island of Papua, for example, it is common to wear only a loincloth, and for the women to leave their breasts uncovered. The Asmat, a tribal group, is characterized by its nude statues, an element typical of their culture. Finally, on the island of Bali, famous for its tourism, it would no longer be possible to sunbathe in a bikini, or to drink alcohol at the nightclubs.
Posted by Marisol at September 18, 2008 12:17 AM
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The so called "pornography" law - which should be called "Arabization" law - provides sufficient power for people to ban The Holy Bible. You know i'm talking about The Songs of Songs.
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at September 18, 2008 4:05 AM
"....wipes out "cultural and religious differences" by eliminating "pluralism"..."
meaning all non Muslims religions must be eliminated...
at September 18, 2008 5:52 AM
I don't want to generalize, but that seems to be the function of all pornography laws - to censor material that an organized religion finds is counter to their doctrines.
'Course, Islam is the only group who uses organized violence to get it's way.
Posted by: tanstaafl at September 18, 2008 8:43 AM
Indonesia is following the path to Sharia law.
There's no mystery about it, they're just obeying the Koran.
To stop this drift there is a simple solution - start imposing economic sanctions on countries which don't follow the universal declaration of human rights.
Remember? - those non-negotiable, non-dhimmied, non-appeasing standards that were agreed to by countries when they signed up to join the UN.
We could also start suspending UN membership for countries that don't abide by them.
Trust me, this is happening in your neighbourhood wherever you are and it is global in nature. As seen in other articles on the Jihad Watch site, Sharia law and customer is increasing across the world - do whatever you can to convince your local, regional and national leaders to stand up for your rights.
No-one in our societies should be allowed to impose legal rulings in conflict with the UN declaration of human rights.
at September 18, 2008 9:44 AM
veil416 you must be in the porn bussien the declarion of human right doesnot allow porn as than protect activally. All nation have the right to pass
anti-porn law. Look at the law USA and Europe have against porn material in the case of the Dutch and Dane lack of law against porn material.
at September 18, 2008 3:12 PM
DefenderofIslam: As I said, it is not a "pornography" law, but an "Arabization" law. It forces Indonesian people into Arab culture. Our Indonesian culture don't do pornography, we don't need a primitive and barbaric Arab religion to teach that.
at September 18, 2008 3:50 PM
veil416: "Indonesia is following the path to Sharia law."
You are absolutely correct. I am a kuffur in Indonesia and a dhimmi-wannabe. The world will see a new sharia country and the first sharia country in South East Asia within the next two or three general elections.
Democracy here is a stepping stone towards a sharia law. Democracy here means tyranny of majority.
at September 18, 2008 3:58 PM
Another report on the same subject, from the Australian news media:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/18/2367546.htm?section=justin
Thousand of Balinese rally against anti-porn bill
'About 1,000 Balinese dressed in traditional sarongs have rallied to protest against a controversial anti-pornography bill that critics say could hurt local cultural traditions.
'The anti-smut bill aims to shield the young from pornographic material and lewd acts, *but also contains provisions that could jail people for kissing in public and criminalise many forms of art or traditional culture that hinge on sensuality.*{my emphasis added - dda}
'Lawmakers in the world's most populous Muslim nation have so far stopped short of passing the bill which has been in parliament for over three years because of criticism it would threaten Indonesia's tradition of tolerance.
'But some political parties are hoping for its approval this month when the final draft is tabled in parliament.
'One Islamic party's lawmaker has said the bill would be a Ramadan gift.
"We in Bali see the body as aesthetic, but the pornography bill sees the body as an object of sin," said Sugilanus, one of the protesters at the rally in Denpasar, capital of the predominantly Hindu island of Bali.
'Nude sculptures and paintings are common in culturally-rich Bali, which earns most of its income from domestic and international tourists.
"Reject the pornography bill," some protesters shouted as they performed a sensual traditional dance while others carried banners saying, "The porn bill is not a gift but humiliation for the nation".
'Earlier this week, Bali's governor, Made Mangku Pastika, rejected the parliament plan for passing the contentious bill.
'Balinese lawmakers plan to go to Jakarta next week to pressure members of parliament to drop the controversial draft, Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, chairman of Bali's house representatives, said.
'Illegal explicit material is available in Indonesia, and television programs regularly feature bared flesh and sexual innuendo.
'Lawmakers watered down the bill following criticism and street protests over the issue early last year.
'Critics say it could pave the way for vigilante groups to take the law into their own hands under a pretext of upholding morality.
'Militant Muslim groups in Indonesia, particularly since the fall of former president Suharto in 1998, have sporadically taken vigilante action against red-light areas or liberal publications deemed offensive.'
- Reuters
at September 18, 2008 4:54 PM
We know who is behind this antipornography law. This law just a start up of shariah law application in entire of Indonesia region. This kind of people, let we say.. supporters of Arabisation culture, is only have a dream they have, to get a ticket to heaven.. which is very stupid act to do by runing the peace of mlticultural human being which exist for bmillions of years in this earth. So, let we gather ourself to reject this kind of act... reject all way to islamized or Arabized the world with tricky and violence way.
Posted by: Angel at September 23, 2008 2:50 PM
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