Religious imposition
As mentioned earlier, an anti-pornography is working it’s way through the Indonesian parliament at present.
Women’s rights activists and the arts lobby in the country have come out against the bill which many fear will be used to promote a hardline conservative agenda.
The Melon Farmers have an update from Bali:
About 1,000 protesters here greeted a visiting delegation of legislators deliberating the Indonesian pornography bill by threatening to organize acts of civil disobedience if it becomes law. We designed the rally to underline the open and tolerant nature of Balinese culture. That’s the reason why the rally is filled with traditional art performances and music concerts, the rally’s chief organizer, I Gusti Ngurah Harta, said.
The article goes on to point out that protesters against the bill range from activists and academics to ordinary people and also notes that there has been widespread opposition to the bill, which takes a very moralistic approach to pornographic material and obscene acts.
Women’s rights activists fear women are particularly vulnerable to its misuse, while some ethnic groups, such as the Balinese and Papuans, have nudity as part of their cultural displays.
Balinese arts and religious beliefs have never considered sensuality and sexuality as an impure, morally reprehensible thing. Instead, sensuality and sexuality are treated as natural, integral parts of our lives as human beings, another rally organizer, Cok Sawitri, said. In the past, Balinese women never wore a bra, yet the custom did not turn the society into a sex-craving, pornographically demented community.
A participant in the meeting with the legislators said they reminded them that Indonesia was not a monolithic state where one group could impose its values on the rest.
An internet campaign site - Jiwa Merdeka (Free Soul) - which has been in operation since February 22nd allows people to read or download various documents including the bill itself, the Bali delegation’s opposition statement and a list of the notable figures, who support the opposition. Most of the texts are are in Indonesian, but they are in the process in translating key documents into English.
The Jakarta Post goes on to explore some of the ramifications of the bill.
Edward “Edo” Hutabarat held up the coffee-table book he wrote on traditional Indonesian fashion, including attire with plunging necklines and tightly cinched corsets, during a House of Representatives hearing on the pornography bill.
Known for his efforts to promote the kebaya traditional blouse, the designer said the tank-top also was part of Indonesian clothing.
“Am I also subject to the bill?” Edo asked.
He was part of a delegation, led by lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis who said that criminalization of the arts may lead to self-censorship among artists, filmmakers and writers, which eventually would undermine Indonesia’s cultural riches and also warned that the bill would cause social unrest if it was passed without accommodating the concerns of some groups in society.
Deliberation of the bill has been prioritized by several Muslim-based parties, particularly the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP).
PPP legislator Lukman Hakim told the delegation that the arts should also be considered from a religious point of view.
“PPP is not against art, but there should be some limitations,” he said.
’nuff said.
Thursday 09 Mar 2006 | Paul | Indonesia
