NO PDA - or have Allah's wrath upon thou

I originally posted this on March 11th, 2006.


Kurang lebih 150 wanita2 di ibu kota Indonesia Jakarta demonstrasi menantang undang2 hukum, selain porno juga mempertihatkan kaki dan bahu dan kesenian yang drianggap sebagai erotik, akan dilarang.
Sedikit orang dari partai2 islam, didukung oleh konservatif muslim organisasi, sa'at ini semangat penbicarakan undang2 hukum serupaitu.
Baru2 ini rancangan undang2 dari tahun 1999 dibicarakan oleh komisi parlemén. Pemimpin komisi, Balkan Kaplale, mengatakan perubahan moral krisis di Indonesia dan mengulsulkan tsunami achir 2004 mungkin hukuman dari Tuhan Allah.

In english, it all boils down to this (thanks to my mom for helping me translate):
At least 150 women demonstrated in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital city, against a law that will prohibit - besides pornography - kissing in public, bare legs and shoulders and all that can be regarded as erotic art.
A few islamic (political) parties, backed up by conservative muslim organisations [no surprise there] , are currently lobbying for such a law.
The 1999 bill is now being debated by a parliamentary committee. The chairman of that committee, Balkan Kaplale, said that Indonesia is suffering from a moral crisis and that the tsunami at the end of 2004 was possibly a punishment by Allah.
I find it embarrassing to be reading this in a Dutch newspaper, and I wished I was there to demonstrate alongside the other brave women. These ignorant men need to look beyond their own little frontyards, and closely examine the consequences of such a law - not only for the Indonesians, but also for the country itself. Stating that the tsunami was perhaps a punishment by Allah, to instill fear in people's hearts is stupid. Plain and simple. Now, I'm not saying that everybody should be kissing in public and go around scantily clad - just for the sake of it. On the contrary. But I do think people should be able to choose whether to do so, or not. As for pornography, even though it is "forbidden" one can get a skin mag - illegally, of course - if one knows where to look for it. I'm sure mister chairman knows that, too.
It's just too bad politics and religion are so entwined. Add to that mix a bunch of conservative ignorant men and there you have part of the answer why Indonesia's political climate (still) is unstable. And given the fact that the chairman has his own assumptions I'm fairly sure that bill will pass sooner or later...