[nasional_list] [ppiindia] No playmates for Indonesian playboys
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
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- Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 05:09:16 +0100
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**http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HB10Ae01.html
No playmates for Indonesian playboys
By Bill Guerin
JAKARTA - Playboy magazine, which was due to make its debut in Indonesia next
month, is at the center of a growing anti-pornography debate in Indonesia.
Parliament is debating a draft bill outlawing pornography and pornographic
actions, and it could become law by mid-year. Meanwhile, anti-porn
demonstrations have been held in Jakarta, with Playboy the target of much of
the opposition.
The magazine was founded in the United States in 1953 but has expanded
operations to some 20 countries, including Brazil,
Russia and Serbia. Despite opposition, Playboy is planning to publish soon in
India, though the trademark nudes are expected to be replaced by clothed Indian
models.
Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population, with the vast
majority of its 228 million residents adhering to the faith. And now Muslim
organizations are calling for a "more serious and systemic" movement to fight
pornography and indecent acts, arguing that such behavior has been proved to
damage the morality of the nation.
"It's okay for Western countries but not here, where most of the people are
Muslim," said Fauzan al-Anshari, a top official at the Indonesian Mujahiddin
Council (MMI), which is headed up by jailed militant cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.
Meanwhile, the normally moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest
Muslim organization, has taken the initiative to kick-start its own
anti-pornography movement. "The publication will become a turning point in the
morality movement," executive chairman Hasyim Muzadi said during the
organization's annual congress last March.
Playboy "has no place in our social norms", he said. Asked about the presence
and wide availability of several local semi-pornographic publications available
in Indonesia, Muzadi said the whole point to Playboy is that it is seen as a
global trademark of pornography.
"Pornography can ruin the nation's character, as well as encourage free sex and
a hedonistic way of life, which is unproductive to the nation's future," he
said.
Ma'ruf Amin, head of the Indonesian Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, or
MUI), which functions as the National Islamic Law Deliberation Board, said the
government should act to prohibit publication of Playboy as it would only
"raise social opposition and lead to anarchy among those who objected". The MUI
has already issued a fatwa condemning pornographic media in general.
Perhaps the most ominous threat is from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI),
which campaigns for Islamic law and regularly mobilizes gangs of protesters
against perceived violators of Islamic rules at home or abroad. Its leader
Habib Rizieq warned, "If they publish, we will go after them."
Vice President Yusuf Kalla was the latest to enter the fray, saying: "From the
government's point of view, we disagree with Playboy's publication. Playboy's
entrance to Indonesia is made possible because our laws do not regulate such a
matter."
The government objects to an Indonesian Playboy because the US version of the
magazine sells pornographic images, and that constitutes a violation of the
ethics and norms of the Indonesian people, the vice president said, adding,
"This is not America."
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged Indonesians not to imitate blindly
foreign cultures that contravene their faith and tradition.
"There is no need to copy the lifestyles of foreign countries that are not in
line with the spirit and the personality of our nation," Yudhoyono said in a
keynote national address last year marking Indonesian Family Day.
But media observer Veven Wardhana has a different spin on the situation:
"Actually, Indonesians are hypocrites. They will secretly buy it, but they will
not dare to state their approval - they will even speak as if they reject it."
If the bill passes, a National Anti-Pornography Agency will be set up with
authority to fine or arrest those considered to be acting "indecently" or
violating the country's "moral code". The legislation is also expected to
include heavy jail sentences for those branded "pornographers".
Currently, there are no legal obstacles to Playboy's publication. However, the
first edition will now be delayed until "both partners are satisfied the
product addresses the sensitivities of the marketplace", said David Walker,
Playboy international vice president and editorial director.
Even before the new legislation is on the books, police have been busy. Over
three days police in the capital and surrounding urban areas confiscated
mountains of erotic tabloids, along with pornographic video discs. At least 100
people were taken in for questioning.
Not all things to all men
The magazine may publish without the trademark nude pictures, but then there
are questions about who will buy it. Ironically, Indonesian model Tiara
Lestari, dubbed Southeast Asia's Naomi Campbell, posed nude as Playboy's cover
girl for the Spanish edition in August.
Awianto Nugroho, a promotions officer at PT Velvet Silver Media, which is to
publish the magazine, maintains the magazine will steer clear of contents
unacceptable to prevailing Indonesian norms. The monthly, he said, would not
only focus on women, but try to educate readers.
There will be pictures but they will not contain nudity, PT Velvet publishing
director Ponti Carolus Pandean said. "We are not a porn magazine and we will
not be featuring too many pictures." Other pledges include a promise to respect
local values and to limit distribution to avoid sale to minors.
"One thing for sure, we do not want to go to jail after investing so much
money," Ponti said after sounding out members of Indonesia's Press Council.
But the Press Council is not supportive. "This could disturb the fabric of
society," council deputy chairman R H Siregar said.
Press Council chairman Ichlasul Amal was more pragmatic. The increasing
popularity of entertainment magazines in Indonesia has attracted the interest
of businessmen who may not necessarily be interested in national education and
morality, he said. "Capitalism plays the key role."
Nugroho, who was well aware of the likely sensitivities in his country before
his company shelled out thousands of dollars for the franchise fee, will have
to compete with the likes of the local franchise of British men's magazine FHM
as well as Maxim, Sexy, Marta and Popular.
Mountains of free publicity from the non-stop controversy should ensure big
sales initially. But, as Kalla points out, if the local version differs from
the US Playboy by replacing photos of naked women with articles on lifestyle,
political and economic issues, buyers will "feel cheated".
Been there, done this, seen that
If the anti-pornography bill is passed, prison sentences await those who act
indecently or in a "sexually arousing" manner. Even kissing will be banned in
public. Other sins will include going around scantily dressed, and even dangdut
artist Inul Daratista's gyrations will be suspect. Dangdut, a genre of
Indonesia pop music, has addicted the working classes and the poor. Inul
offended sensitivities in Indonesia when in 2002, shoehorned into tight-fitting
body suits and bumping and grinding, she aroused the passions of thousands of
admirers, mostly young males (see Indonesia 'all shook up' over singer, May 10,
2003).
Inul told Time in a recent interview: "They [MUI] should realize that Indonesia
is not a Muslim country, it's a democratic country. Why should they care about
me when there are pornographic VCDs [video compact discs] and prostitutes in
the street? They choose me because I am an easy target."
But they do care. Yudhoyono even warned last year, "Living together out of
wedlock is still viewed as a disgraceful deed that goes against the norms of
religions and laws."
But Ande Armando, commissioner of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI),
while concerned that "this new [medium] will plunge our nation further into a
moral crisis because it will make women's private parts easily displayed to the
public, including to under-age children", still believes a ban would be a
somewhat unfair.
"If Playboy is being banned in Indonesia, the logic will be the other male
magazines like FHM, also Popular and Matra and other domestic male magazines,
should also be banned," he said.
The new legislation is expected to determine what publications will and will
not be allowed in the country. The knee-jerk reactions will eventually subside,
and on balance there is every likelihood the magazine will eventually be
launched in a watered-down version, with its distribution strictly controlled
to guard against sales to minors.
Bill Guerin, a Jakarta correspondent for Asia Times Online since 2000, has been
in Indonesia for 20 years, mostly in journalism and editorial positions. He has
been published by the BBC on East Timor and specializes in business/economic
and political analysis related to Indonesia. He can be reached at
softsell@xxxxxxxxxxxx
.
(Copyright 2006 Asia Times Online Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us
for information on sales, syndication and republishing .)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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