Pamekasan Protest

Artists in Pamekasan, Madura protest a law against the staging of theatrical and other entertainment shows.

On the 19th dozens of artists in Pamekasan, on the island of Madura in East Java, marched against a planned law that would place restrictions on the staging of theatrical and other entertainment shows. Protesters complain that the law is unpopular and represents the interests of a "certain …

Pamekasan Polygamy

Clerics in Pamekasan, Madura, want the mayor to allow public servants to be polygamous.

At the monthly meeting between senior clerics in Pamekasan and the mayor of the town, Ahmad Syafi'l, the Muslim leaders asked that male public servants, who are currently not allowed to have more than one wife, be allowed to practise their rights according to Islam.

One cleric, Mas'ud, explained that despite …

Comment by bayo: … be they want to be Pamekasan as a district with the most …

Catholic Churches in Madura

… from Flores, Java, Sumatra, and some local Chinese.

Next Lambertus travels to another town, Pamekasan, which doesn't have a much better reputation than Bangkalan. The Pamekasan Catholic Church is led by a Flores priest and is located in the town's main square, along with the grand mosque and important government buildings, and is a survivor of Dutch colonial times.

Pamekasan church.

Lambertus attends an Easter service at the church but finds it hard to conceal his …

Model Village

… the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) hopes to build a model or example Islamic village in the town of Pamekasan on Madura island. Abdus Somad Bukhori of MUI says the model village will display Islamic concepts in economics, culture, social relations, and democracy put into action.

The Regent of Pamekasan, Ach Sayfi'ie, welcomed the plan:

Whatever the East Java MUI wishes is very good.

And he said every regency should have at least one Islamic show village, but first local governments …

Toyota Rush, Daihatsu Terios

The Toyota Rush and Daihatsu Terios will soon be launched.

Both PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) and PT Astra Daihatsu Motor are hoping to sell one thousand units of the Toyota Rush/Daihatsu Terios per month in 2007, a 1500cc car that seats up to seven people.

Johnny Darmawan, the President Director of PT TAM hopes sales of the Rush will push Toyota's market share up a few points to 35%. He …

Comment by Octavia: … Regards Octavia Pamekasan

Freedom of Religion Report

… they enforced in the beach area frequented by international tourists.
The Madura regency of Pamekasan established a local Shari'a implementation committee in 2003 calling for the wearing of Muslim attire by Muslim civil servants and the cessation of both public and work activities during the call to prayer [ Pamekasan, various]. On December 31, 2005, Maros Regency in South Sulawesi, also passed three local laws similar to those in Bulukumba Regency. In 2006 the mayor of Tangerang in …

Ramadan Discipline & Solemnity

The banging of drums, and Ramadan fasting slackers, are on the minds of the Pamekasan branch of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia.

Kholilurrahman, the chairman of the Pamekasan, Madura, East Java, branch of the cleric's council (MUI) said recently that Muslim public servants (Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS)) in the city who did not observe the fast during Ramadan should be punished by the local government. This, he said, would be an admirable way of giving the city's …

Micro Nuclear Bomb

… Front, (FPI) meant a trip to Jakarta interrupted his East Java odyssey. After Malang visits to Pamekasan and Probolinggo have already been pencilled in in his busy schedule.

MP’s Denounce Sharia Laws

… provinces in Indonesia which had passed such laws, among them, Aceh, Gorontalo, South Sulawesi, Pamekasan, Riau, Indramayu, Tasikmalaya, South Sumatera, Cianjur, Maros, Binjai, and Bulu Kumba. (see also Eighteen Regencies Sharia Bound ).

Front Pembela Islam Raids

… the Islamic Defenders Front, FPI, Front Pembela Islam.

On the 20th of May in the town of Pamekasan, in Madura, East Java, one of the Front's few strong areas in that province, members conducted raids on a number of night spots and some roadside stalls which were thought to be selling alcohol. One hotel was also targeted and the owner of the establishment was instructed not to allow the sale of liquor and drugs on his premises.

Speeches followed in which an unnamed FPI man …

Creeping Sharia Draws Protests

… in the towns of Padang in West Sumatra, Cianjur in West Java, Bulukumba in South Sulawesi, and Pamekasan on the island of Madura in East Java.

Such laws are usually targeted against women, gamblers, and drinkers. While laws against gambling and alcohol can be argued to not necessarily emanate from sharia principles alone the restrictions of female dress have drawn the most protests since these are a clear violation of the 2004 law on Regional Autonomy which specifically prohibits local …