The Indonesian Way of Death

Jan 30th, 2008, in IM Posts, Opinion, by Ross

View the original article here.

11 Comments on “The Indonesian Way of Death”

Martin Manurung Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I don’t know about foreigners, but when my grandma passed away, everything was done by the hospital. The death certificate was not complicated. After we got a death report from the hospital, we just went to our Kelurahan and we got the certificate instantly with no fees.
Janma Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I’ve had to sort out arrangements for a few foreigners who have died here…. it’s not too hard really. The hospital does most of it. We even got money to help from Jasa Raharja for Olivia’s funeral (she was 16 and killed in a motor bike accident… but had no insurance).. I didn’t even know she would get that, they contacted me to give the money over….
Janma Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Oh, and on topic about seeing dead people on tv…. you should watch the lunchtime crime shows ross! unbelievable… absolutely no compunction at all about showing a two year old with it’s throat slit lying in blood beside his mother who is screaming and writhing on the floor…. all in time for the kids getting home from school. Forget smackdown being a worry, those things make smackdown look like disney!
dewaratugedeanom Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Reality TV, isn’t that a US invention?
Bas Says:
February 1st, 2008 at 10:06 pm
The real Reality TV is in Indonesia. You see nothing in the US.
Ross Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Ya, Janma, watch crime progs most days. Just thought Metro might have had some compunctions re the poor Englishman’s kinfolk.
Happily I have had no experience in such matters here (bereavement, not crime) so interesting to hear it is not too hard.
Purba Negoro Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Maybe the Westerner is too much like little girl these days?
zekky Says:
April 16th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I remember Indo TV showing the full dead bodies of burned corpses once.

My Japanese friend told me that Japanese TV is the same… perhaps displays of dead bodies just aren’t such an issue in this region of the world?
Stupid Bule Says:
May 27th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Yes I agree Jamma, I too have seen this appalling lunchtime crime program (0nce only). I was deeply upset and traumatised by viewing the program showing the small child you spoke of. What self-respecting ‘civilised’ people would allow for such depravity? If the Television Broadcasting Censorship Laws in this country are anything to go by, then be afraid…be very afraid.
ET Says:
May 27th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
What self-respecting ‘civilised’ people would allow for such depravity? If the Television Broadcasting Censorship Laws in this country are anything to go by, then be afraid…be very afraid.

They are more preoccupied with pornografi laws than with real gore.
Stupid Bule Says:
May 28th, 2009 at 11:53 am
They are more preoccupied with pornografi laws than with real gore.

Yes, the only problem with this is that they believe a woman’s bare breast is “pornography”…

Who would of thunk it..? A woman’s breasts are “pornographic”. Last time I checked, breasts were not man made…

Most definitions seem to agree that pornography is; The explicit depiction or exhibition of sexual activity in literature, films or photography that is intended to stimulate erotic, rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.

I take issue with the interpretation of the law and the self-serving manner in which it’s enacted. Explicit footage of a child with her throat cut is news worthy and available for anyone with a TV. Whereas breasts, erotically stimulating or repulsive (it’s a matter of taste) are removed.