Wahidin Halim, Tangerang

Ross on sharia lite in Tangerang and Mayor Wahidin Halim's re-election bid.

Establishment Kow-Towing to the Worst

A week or so ago, the Jakarta Post reported that the Mayor of Tangerang, Wahidin Halim, was being supported in his bid for re-election by a constellation of establishment parties, most of whom are not generally regarded as fanatic. Yet this civic leader is surely the self-same man who has …

Comment by Ross: … the loonies. The Tangerang mayoralty is not perhaps a …

Front Penyelamat Tangerang

The Front Penyelamat Tangerang, or Tangerang Saviors Front (FPT), attacked a complex of shops thought to be dens of sin.

Tempo reports that the Front, numbering about 150 men, converged on the Lipo Karawaci commercial area and attempted to close a number of clubs there believed to be places of alcohol drinking and prostitution.

Led by one Tubagus Mahdi the FPT demanded that the clubs be closed, in …

Prostitution In Tangerang

In Tangerang the carrying of make-up compacts and lipstick may land women in court on charges of prostitution.

The story of Lilies Lindawati, which we touched on in Tangerang Morality Building, has been detailed further in the Jakarta Post.

Lilies, 35, was arrested and convicted summarily of soliciting in February this year, under draconian anti-prostitution laws in the satellite city …

Comment by Rob: … me.Again in this Tangerang case those with power abuse …

Malnutrition & Morality in Tangerang

While the administration of Tangerang, in Banten province, near Jakarta, frets about the length of schoolgirls' skirts and decides that four minute kissing bouts are ok but not five minutes, real problems in the city, such as child malnutrition, are ignored.

The Jakarta Post recently detailed some stories of malnutrition in Tangerang among small children, including some which resulted in death. They said that …

Christian School in Tangerang Targeted

A Christian pre-school in Tangerang, Banten, near Jakarta, was surrounded by a mob yesterday which demanded that it close down.

The school, Taman Kanak-kanak Kristen Daniel, was empty at the time and the owner of the building pled with the demonstrators not to damage it. They didn't but before dispersing threatened to return another day, when the school was open.

Metro TV says that the mob claimed the school …

Tangerang Morality Building

The municipality of Tangerang, an industrial satelite city of Jakarta with about 3 million unfortunate inhabitants, has passed a number of draconian laws against prostitution and drinking which have caused more than a few complaints.

Tangerang Council promulgated the two by-laws on Nov. 21, 2005. Bylaw No. 7/2005 bans the distribution and the sale of alcoholic drinks, except in three to five-star hotels and …

Porn Laws in English

… or objects pertaining to that as defined by any single one or combination of Sections 4-6, 8-10.

Comment by Purba Negoro: … in North Jakarta, Tangerang and Bekasi as well- also …

Pornography Laws

… atau penyediaan jasa pornografi.

[rss]This is a post from the Indonesia Matters website.[/rss]

Comment by Ary: … the authority, in Tangerang, applied Sharia Law. When …

City Cost of Living Comparisons

… (88) Semarang (86) Palembang (85) Banjarmasin (85) Pontianak (84) Tangerang (84) Cilegon (84) Makassar (84) Yogyakarta (84) Surabaya (83) Jambi (81) Cirebon (81) Denpasar (80) Bandar Lampung (75) Mataram (75)

The last time the survey was conducted, in July 2006, Balikpapan came in at 103 on the index. Both Denpasar and Banjarmasin became relatively much cheaper to live in compared to 2006, while …

Comment by Rob: … Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, and Bekasi do! Kasihan deh, …

Muslim Schools

Islamic boarding schools are under increasing pressure from radical elements, says Syamsir Siregar.

Continuing a recent talkative streak state intelligence boss (Badan Intelijen Negara, BIN) Syamsir Siregar said on 29th August that Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, were highly susceptible to being infiltrated or taken over by radicals, people who would ruin the image of Islam …

Comment by Andy: … which takes in Tangerang and all those areas west of …

Care for Elderly Jobs, Japan

Purba Negoro on Indonesian nurses for Japan, and the Japanese contribution to Indonesian development.

Good News for a Change

Today - I try and correct some perceptions of Indonesia being a source of bad news.

Anyway good news:

Indonesia has sent 208 nurses and caregivers for the elderly to Japan on Wednesday Aug 6 as part of bilateral economic partnership agreement between the …

Comment by Andy: … the sweatshops in Tangerang. They already know where …

Old Traditions & Customs

… for the future of the island’s culture if fanaticism continues to rise unchecked. Will Java to itself be true?

Comment by Ross: … Catholics in Tangerang and animists in the jungle as …

Maid Abuse

Discussion on abuse of Indonesian maids in Singapore and Malaysia, and elsewhere.

Comments split off from Dedi Mulyadi …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … thunder dicky) Tangerang-Bekasi etc are notorious for …

Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti

A violent neighbourhood dispute over a Christian theological college in East Jakarta.

The dispute over the 19 year-old Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (Kampus Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Injil Arastamar, SETIA) in the Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti, Makassar, East Jakarta area flared up again with on July 25th a violent fight breaking out between local Muslim residents and Christian …

Comment by Rambutan: … Certainly not in Tangerang. Maybe we should introduce …

Power Blackouts

… hours at a time, in Jakarta (certain parts of Gambir, Kebayoran, and Kramat Jati) and parts of Tangerang, between the hours of 08.00-15.00 and 15.00-22.00 WIB.

The reason for the blackouts is given as gas supply problems at two power stations, PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Tanjung Priok.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro

The blackouts will affect both households and businesses/factories, while the Energy minister, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, says he has received a letter of concern from an …

Literary Parody

… remain squatting like a huge naked emperor, casting a bloated shadow over all Indonesian literature.]

The End

Gili Trawangan Prison Island 2008.
Spoken – last night while off my face on magic mushrooms.
Written – this morning, while the hangover was kicking in.

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … and Loathing in Tangerang: a Gonzo Journey. by …

My Friend the Fanatic

… Law are interviewed; still in South Sulawesi he journeys to the district of Bulukumba (if Tangerang in Banten has "sharia lite", Bulukumba can claim the heavier version); while a chapter on Batam begins with an almost moving, snippet-like description of the lives of two types of "Batam girls", those who work in the factories, and those who work in the bars;...and plenty else besides.

Islam

What isn't likely to endear this book to a lot of its target audience, i.e educated …

Cinta Terlarang di Hotel Murahan

… membuat pernyataan - berjanji untuk tidak berkeliaran lewat malam dengan pacar mereka lagi.

Tangerang

Tangerang, 23 Maret. Tujuh hotel kelas Melati digeledah oleh enam puluh petugas ketertiban umum. Lima pasangan yang katanya sedang berzinah ditangkap.

Salah satu yang ditangkap "AM" 52 tahun, adalah anggota Forum Komunikasi Anak Betawi (Forkabi) di Jakarta Barat. AM menyatakan memahami tidak mengapa pemerintah di tangerang begitu tegas terhadap perselingkuhan. Dia berkata …

Forbidden Love in Cheap Hotels

… a statement promising not to stay out late with their girl/boy-friends again. indosiar

Tangerang

Tangerang, March 23rd. Seven lower class hotels were raided by 60 public order officers, and five couples, said to be "adulterous", arrested.

One man arrested, 52 year old "AM", a member of Forum Komunikasi Anak Betawi (Forkabi) in West Jakarta, said he had no idea Tangerang authorities took such a hardline stance against extra-marital affairs. He said: okezone

It's …

Purwakarta Church Burned Down

A church is burned down in Purwakarta, West Java by local people feeling slighted at the lack of response to their protests over its construction.

In Citeko village, Plered district, Purwakarta, West Java on 20th May a church run by the Abdi Karya Foundation (Yadika) was burned down in an attack by hundreds of local people.

The building had formerly been a tile factory and was in the …

Comment by Berlian Biru: … of Sharia-lite in Tangerang, then we had the recent …

Informal Transportation - Ojeg

… whether ojeg driving provides an adequate livelihood.

Ojeg Drivers in Pisangan, Ciputat, Tangerang

Informal transportation vehicles are popular not only in the third world, but also in the developed countries. In most developing countries, this transportation, particularly motorcycles, are part of the essential mode of transportation.

Ojek drivers at the ready.

To what extent does ojeg, or ojek, driving support the daily needs of ojeg drivers? This article will seek …

Julia Perez & Kamasutra

… performing in particular cities, such as those imposed on singer Dewi Persik in Bandung and Tangerang, and most recently in Balikpapan. They hoped that Julia Perez's name would be added to the blacklist. antara tempo

Boycott

And in Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), the head of the Department of Religion, Lalu Suhaemi, implored the good citizens of Lombok to stay well clear of Kamasutra and its bonus package. He was worried particularly about the provocative titles of …

Siti Fadilah Supari

Siti Fadilah Supari, struggling for Islam and Indonesia against the hegemonic bules.

Health minister Siti Fadilah Supari spoke at a seminar hosted by the "Forum Kajian Sosial Kemasyarakatan" (FKSK) in Jakarta on 17th March and said that Islamic ideology was the most complete and was best suited for Indonesia.

"Forum Kajian Sosial Kemasyarakatan" (FKSK), is a front organisation for the …

Comment by HItam TApi CIna: … to man already in Tangerang Jakarta last month and …

Sexy Dewi Persik

… to support sexy dangdut singer Dewi Persik.

The disgraceful behaviour of the primitives in Tangerang towards that splendid young lady Dewi Persik deserves our interest.

Dewi Persik, wardrobe accident.

To listen to some mediaeval oaf likening the cheery, pretty singer to a prostitute, because presumably she makes their Darth Vadar-lookalike women seem dowdy, was infuriating.

We who are guests in this country may not participate in demos or political manifestations of any …

Comment by Patung: … to perform in Tangerang, provided she dresses for the …

Khofifah Indar Parawansa

On whether women, in this case Khofifah Indar Parawansa, are suitable for regional leadership positions.

On 28th March Suryadharma Ali of the Development Party, Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP) announced the candidacy of Khofifah Indar Parawansa for the East Java governor's election in July.

Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Khofifah is the head of the womens' wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, …

Comment by Murphy: … Thus the notorious Tangerang regency bylaws or today’s …

Google Maps Indonesia

Google insults the people of Indonesia with their sub-par maps.

This is Google Maps' view of East Java. It's an improvement on not too long ago, when the dot for Malang was bigger than the dot for Surabaya - now they've gotten onto equal terms, so moving in the right direction.

But the spelling hasn't improved yet, - there are old Dutch forms, and some odd ones, like:

…

Comment by azizan nasron: Sitanala hospital (tangerang, banten, indonesia) is not …

Current Minimum Wage

…     Bandung Regency - 895,980

DKI Jakarta - 972,604

Banten - 837,000

    Tangerang - 953,850

    Cilegon - 971,400

Central Java - 547,000

Yogyakarta - 586,000

East Java

    Surabaya - 805,500

    Sidoarjo - 802,000

Bali

    Badung - 805,000

    Denpasar - 800,000

    Gianyar - 760,000

    Jembrana - 737,500

    Karangasem - 712,320

    Klungkung - 686,000

    Bangli …

White Men

… their decreptitude.

Haunts: JakChat, Jl. Felatehan.
Dwells: Jl. Jaksa, Kos, random houses in Tangerang or Bekasih.
Sayings: * Vomit * c'mere, darlin' * vomit *, * vomit *, the problem with these Indons is they don't know how to work.

Do-Gooders

20-something NGO workers and journalists. Indonesia's been good to them. It offers a steady stream of natural disasters, crises, and problems (mostly created by the Bule himself), to justify their existences. The exchange rate means …

Muslim Barbie Doll

Salma, Islamic barbie dolls for Indonesian girls.

In Depok, West Java, Sukmawati Suryaman designs "Salma" (from the Arabic "salamah") dolls, a Muslim variant of the traditional, western, Barbie doll.

The actual dolls are imported from China, while Sukmawati makes the outfits, and by dressing the Salma dolls in Muslim dress , like in jilbab / headscarf and flowing Arab
style …

Comment by dewaratugedeanom: … after dark in Tangerang will be jailed. Repent.

Indonesian Women

… policy which had created discriminative regulations against women, such as the 2005 by-law in Tangerang, Banten, which stipulates that any woman seen alone in public after 19.00 could be considered a prostitute and arrested, as well as the various regional laws, such as this one in Malang, requiring women to obtain permission from their husbands to work at night.

Meuthia said the meeting also criticized the Indonesian government for its failure to fully integrate CEDAW convention …

Comment by Ade Wanto: … the 2005 by-law in Tangerang, Banten, which stipulates …

Batak Church Attack

A Batak church in Tangerang, West Java is attacked.

On 2nd September a house used as a church in the Pondok Sukatani Permai housing estate, Sukatani, Tangerang ( map ), western Java was damaged in an attack by about 300 Muslims.

One report says about 200 people were in the house attending a regular Sunday service when a crowd of 300 surrounded the church and demanded that the service stop. Parishioners …

Jakarta Election Result

… or closure of night-spots if he were to win. (This assurance was needed in view of neighbouring Tangerang 's absurd rules established by that large authority's Islamist mayor.)

Adang's running mate was an ex-senior police officer whose reputation was pretty respectable by the standards of Indonesian politics. The team raked in over 40% of the total vote, and might have had more if the turnout had been higher, but so many citizens are disgusted with all politicians that many didn't bother …

Dark Rooms

… of their sins.

The group is also said to have spread to Kragilan in Serang and Jatiuwung in Tangerang. antara

Fraternizing

Young men and women are still mixing freely in Aceh.

The Majelis Permusyawaratan Ulama (MPU), a clerical body, said in May that "cafes" in the capital Banda Aceh, like roadside stalls and simple restaurants, were still allowing young girls and boys, who weren't related to each other or married, to fraternize unsupervised by sitting next to each other, even while it was time to …

Comment by Raden: Hi Arema, the way Tangerang & Banten run their …

Long Skirts

Dress rules for the overweight students of Tangerang.

The government of Tangerang in West Java, a satelite city of Jakarta, intends to require female junior high school students to wear long, probably ankle length, skirts while their male counterparts must wear long trousers.

Tangerang government spokesman Saiful Rohman said the rule was not set down in a local law but would come in the form of an edict from the city's education …

Comment by Abdul Khalid al Jumhuri: … as the people in Tangerang continue show indifference …

Conservative Moral Values

… Islamic sharia, like dress laws in Padang and anti-prostitution and anti alcohol laws in Tangerang and elsewhere, are not necessarily anything to do with Islamic law because:

Indonesians usually hold conservative values and support strict moral laws without necessarily seeing them as purely religious or sharia-based.

A conservative moral law is not necessarily related to Islamism, it is a reflection of basic conservative moral values and beliefs.

Sharia will have to be …

Fauzi Bowo

… antara

Fauzi Bowo.

The "Commandant" of the Tim Pembela Foke (TPF) for Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang, and Depok, Mr Jiro S., says his group cannot stand to see the good name of Fauzi Bowo tarnished by the two websites in question. The websites could influence the views of people in Jakarta and so he gave the owners three days to close them down.

We will take firm action if our request is not heeded. Stop what you are doing or face the anger of Fauzi Bowo supporters in Jakarta. …

Biblical Law

Laws based on the bible in Papua.

The regency government of Manokwari in West Papua (West Irian Jaya) is considering enacting laws based on the Bible.

Specifically there are said to be ranesi proposed laws against alcohol and prostitution, regulations on dress and worship, including bans on the display of symbols of a "certain religion", and bans on the building of houses of worship …

Comment by Abdul Khalid al Jumhuri: … Sukabumi, Tangerang, Makassar, and others, why in …

Beheadings Trial

The man on trial over the schoolgirl beheadings of 2005 is said to have carried out the attack as a Lebaran gift for Muslims.

Hasanuddin has been sentenced to 20 years.

November 10th, 2006.

Prosecutors at the Central Jakarta District Court allege that Hasanuddin, alias Hasan, alias Slamet Raharjo, who is Javanese, planned the beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls in 2005 as …

Comment by Ihaknt: … a chance in Aceh, Tangerang, let alone thruout Indo. I …

Dating Websites

Dating websites for Indonesians and some of the female profiles.

Some in-English dating site networks with reach in Indonesia.

Cupid Media

Cupid Media seems to be an Australian company that has a network of about 20 dating websites, some of which are relevant here.

Indonesian Cupid , which seems to be mainly aimed at foreigners looking for an Indonesian bride, has many women …

Comment by Mohammed Khafi: … it is even the Tangerang kind where if you are on the …

Aceh Sharia Non-Negotiable

Sharia in Aceh is non-negotiable, says a young cleric.

Faisal Ali, the head of "Rabithah Thaliban", an organisation of Islamic school students in Aceh, says the issue of sharia is not a "political commodity". Speaking in response to criticisms voiced at an international conference in the capital Banda Aceh of the implementation of sharia and whether it was really desired by the people he …

Comment by Ihaknt: … arrested. Even in Tangerang, standing waiting for a bus …

The Vespa Lifestyle

Female students at the University of Indonesia no longer ride around on Vespa scooters half naked.

The "Vespa Girls" at the UI of the roaring 70's, who apparently once cruised about on Italian motor scooters between classes, sometimes wearing no underwear under their mini-skirts, are no longer with us. These exponents of the Vespa Lifestyle at the nation's pre-eminent seat of learning have …

Comment by Madesh: … those women in Tangerang area who were caught by …

Anti-Chinese Violence

Anti-Chinese feeling in Indonesia, 1996-1999.

Jemma Purdey, in Anti-Chinese Violence in Indonesia, 1996-1999 , suggests that the anti-Chinese violence which periodically occurred prior to May 1998 had its origins in the policy of the Suharto government of marginalising the ethnic Chinese population, restricting them to certain, mainly business, roles, and portraying them as uncaring and …

Comment by Purba NEgoro: … Lampung, Tangerang, Bekasi, Batam etc. The Law …

Jakarta Floods

… cities coming to a halt. Floods have hit at least 33 districts in Jakarta, 16 in Bekasi and 7 in Tangerang.

Five people are reported to have died, three in Jakarta and two in Bekasi.

___________

Twenty people are now said to have died.

___________

Total deaths as of February 10th are 80, 48 in Jakarta, 19 from towns in West Java, mainly Bekasi, and 13 from Banten, mainly Tangerang. antara

Bird Flu

… C.A. Nidom, who is a molecular biologist at Airlangga University, believes that Jakarta and Tangerang are the worst affected areas, based on the results of model simulations he had conducted using bio-informatics calculations.

He claimed that 70% of the inhabitants of Jakarta could be carrying the virus, even though they show no symptoms. tempo Normally the symptoms of bird flu, - heavy, difficult breathing, - do not appear until the infection has reached an advanced …

Bekasi PNS Scandal

Bekasi is hot and bothered by a mini-sex scandal.

Thirteen photos circulating since early December in Bekasi show a female public servant (PNS), named Dini, employed in the housing section of the city administration of the satellite city of Jakarta, in various states of undress and seductive posing. In some of the photos she is accompanied by a male employee of the same office, Aditya.

…

Comment by Mohammed Khafi: … certainly not in Tangerang anyway! I was just refering …

Sunda Nusantara

Leaders of a Sundanese nationalist group have gone on trial.

The Tangerang state court on the 28th of November convened tempo to begin the trials of four men, Ahmad Sujai, Sahrun Asihin, Badri and Suhaedi, arrested for their membership of a Sundanese nationalist group, Gerakan Sunda Nusantara, in late May 2006 in towns around Jakarta. ( Sundanese Nationalism, 27th May)

Map of Java showing language/ethnic divisions.

During questioning of …

Ratu Atut Chosiyah

… out at about 250 polling stations across the province. jawapos

The regencies of Serang, Tangerang, Lebak, and Pandeglang seem to have gone to the incumbent Ratu Atut while the young chap Zulkieflimansyah has managed to win the cities of Cilegon and Tangerang. detik

The winning pair, while they are the nominees of Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan and Golkar, also received the support of the Partai Bintang Reformasi (PBR), Partai Bulan Bintang (PBB), and Partai Damai …

Shoe Industry

… is still competitive and sound.

In the light of the recent closures of three factories in Tangerang and Bekasi, West Java, contracted by the Adidas Group to manufacture shoes in Indonesia, both the Trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu and the shoe industry group Asosiasi Persepatuan Indonesia (Aprisindo) are attempting to approach Adidas and other shoe makers to convince them to remain committed to sourcing from Indonesia. antara

So far they (the buyers) are still committed to …

Adidas Factories

… 16th April 2007. The 6,830 workers of the PT Dong Joe Indonesia (PT DJI) Reebok factory in Tangerang were formally laid off yesterday after having been idle for the last five months. The lay offs were agreed upon by company management, the labour union, and the Tangerang State Court. The company is now said to owe almost 100 billion rupiah, or about one million dollars, in unpaid wages and severance pay.

Harold Kussler, the Factory Manager, said:

There's no way out for PT Dong …

Base Transceiver Stations

… of the Base Transceiver Stations is expected to begin by sometime next year in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi, Banten, and a number of areas in West Java. Once installed they will enable Telkom Flexi users to migrate from the use of the 1900 megahertz frequency band to 800 Mhz.

Muslim Cleric Murdered

… that Muslims did not need to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, going to the mosque at nearby Cipondoh, Tangerang, was sufficient, and that it was permissible for people to pay the poor tax (zakat) after the Idul Fitir holidays, not before as customary. L6 He also held services very late at night, without lights on. indosiar

Alih bin Hadi's preachings had long annoyed local people and it seems that several times a promise had been extracted from him to stop spreading his "false" …

Royal Doulton

… Doulton, a manufacturer of ceramic and china dinnerware, would expand its factory at Tangerang, Banten (western Java, near Jakarta) at a cost of 125 million US dollars.

Waterford Wedgwood, which apart from its famous Royal Doulton china cups, plates, and saucers also produces figurines, has two factories in Asia, with the other being located in India. However, according kompas to Trade minister Mari Pangestu's recollection of conversations with Sir Anthony, Indonesia is …

Comment by Rob: … Gembong, Balaraja, Tangerang, Banten (62-21) 5951329 …

Freedom of Religion Report

… Sulawesi, also passed three local laws similar to those in Bulukumba Regency. In 2006 the mayor of Tangerang in Banten province passed a ban on public displays of affection, alcohol, and prostitution. These bans apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims. The controversial anti-prostitution clause vaguely defines a prostitute as anyone drawing suspicion based on her attitude, behaviour, or dress and places the burden on suspected women to prove their innocence. Tangerang tried thirty-one women as …

Expats

… Certainly some home truths there, but the "Most of them..." part may not stand up to analysis.

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … Jakarta, or even Tangerang. You hate the other Bules …

Discrimination Against Chinese

Lee Kuan Yew says there is systematic discrimination against Indonesians of Chinese descent.

The former president of Singapore, as part of a one-hour address at the Raffles Forum , held in conjunction with the IMF-World Bank Meeting in Singapore, reportedly said that the ethnic Chinese minority population in Indonesia, and Malaysia:

Our neighbors both have problems with their …

Comment by DXP: … live in Padang - Tangerang - Solo (the JI center of …

3G Phone Licenses

… Telekom Malaysia Berhad, will provide services for greater Jakarta, including the towns of Depok, Tangerang, Bogor, and Bekasi.

Both Telkomsel and Excelcomindo are now waiting on the issuing of certificates allowing them to compete in other cities of Indonesia including Bandung, Surabaya, Medan, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Balikpapan, and Makassar, as well as for the island of Bali.

Both Indosat, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Telemedia, and Natrindo, a subsidiary of Maxis …

Radical Islam & Women

… government legislation and by-laws. She mentioned as an example the anti-prostitution law in Tangerang.

...there is a rule against women going out at night alone and they can be arrested as prostitutes if their behaviour is suspicious.
(...ada larangan terhadap perempuan keluar malam sendirian, dan mereka bisa ditangkap sebagai pelacur jika tingkah mereka mencurigakan.)

Comment by Anonymous_aloy: … will be suing the Tangerang Pemda, not me. Yes, my …

Islam is Bad for Tourism

Attempting to forbid sinful activities, such as drinking, harms the growth of tourism in Muslim areas.

Luthfi Assyaukanie mentions the success of Hindu dominated Bali in developing a thriving tourist industry, and compares it with the lack of such success of the Muslim dominated Ternate and Tidore islands in North Maluku, and also Lombok, both places being able to lay claim to having …

Comment by Mohammed Khafi: … on prostitution. Tangerang municipality is leading the …

Preaching Moderation

… a meeting of about 150 NU proselytizers, or preachers, ( dai ) from Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi at the Asrama Haji Pondokgede, in Jakarta on the 2nd, Ma'ruf Amin, who is also the chairman of the Fatwa Commission of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), is leading the efforts to instruct the dakwah practitioners on how to combat the teachings of both fundamentalist groups and liberal ones.

Assisting him at the two-day meeting, Samsul Ma'arif, the head of the Dakwah …

Morality Law for Depok

… immediately deliberate and pass an anti-prostitution and liquor bill, modeled on that of nearby Tangerang city. The debating of the Raperda Pelacuran dan Raperda Minuman Beralkohol has been made a priority of the current session of the Depok parliament and will likely be shortly passed into law.

We will give whatever support is necessary.
(Kita akan memberikan dukungan kapanpun dan dimanapun dibutuhkan.)

Said mediaindo Muhammadiyah Depok secretary Syamsul Kamar.

Not only …

Islamic Violence

… violence. Azyumardi, who is the rector of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Ciputat, Tangerang, suggested the need for the reinterpretation of those Islamic teachings that could be construed as promoting violence and the development of democracy through a campaign for pluralism and tolerance.

Besides, the country is in dire need of a strong government to create political stability and good governance and ensure the rule of law, while the development of democracy should not …

Separation of State & Religion

… the brink of bankruptcy due to sharia-inspired bylaws and increasing unemployment of women.

In Tangerang, low-paid women teachers could no longer supplement their income by working additional hours into the evening for fear they would be arrested on suspicion of prostitution on their way home.

Lilies Lindawati

Update for the story of Lilies Lindawati, the pregnant mother of two convicted of soliciting in Tangerang.

On the 8th May Suara Pembaruan reported that Lilies, convicted under strict anti-prostitution laws in Tangerang, near Jakarta, had taken the mayor of the city, Wahidin Halim, to court seeking 500 million rupiah in damages ($50,000). Additionally the lower court judge who had convicted Lilies was also reported to the Judicial Commission and the city public order authorities …

Repressive Pornography Law

… in 1998", Paddock claims. He says Aceh has adopted sharia law, which is true, but also claims Tangerang has done so - not true, Tangerang has adopted only a few sharia-like by-laws, see Tangerang Morality Building, see also the case of Lilies Lindawati, which Paddock does mention.

Support for the bill, says Paddock, comes from the likes of Fauzan Al Anshori, of the militant Indonesia Mujahedin Council. Anshori says it's all about protecting children:

There's a prostitute …

Local & Regional Laws

… of a specifically Islamic nature such as those to be found in the morality building campaign in Tangerang, West Java, and other towns especially in South Sulawesi, Quran reading ability regulations, and other forms of " creeping sharia " has largely been dodged by the Department.

A member of Commission III in the national parliament (DPR) Professor Mohammed Mahfud MD, speaking at another seminar, the "Memantapkan Arah Kebijakan Pembangunan Hukum Menuju Terwujudnya Sistem Hukum …

Sundanese Nationalism

… have recently arrested a number of members of a Sundanese nationalist group, in Tangerang, Banten, and Bogor, West Java, both near Jakarta. Some reports have the group being called the "Negara Sunda Nusantara" (NSN), others as the "Kerajaan Sunda Nusantara", while another news source has the name as "Forum Komunikasi Masyarakat Sunda Nusantara (FKMSN)". Confusion reigns.

Whatever the name it is evident that at least five members have been arrested. One Muhammad Husein, …

War on Sin Battles & Advances

Some stories from around the country on morality lifting efforts by the authorities and police and the less than pleased response of some.

In the town of Sidrap, South Sulawesi, hundreds of workers at, and owners of, night spots and bars demonstrated at the office of the town mayor on Thursday, 25th May. The local council in Sidrap had previously closed down all night-time entertainment …

Guarding Against Deviancy

… people and the authorities.

On the 11th of May it was reported that hundreds of people in Tangerang, Banten, descended on a house in the village of Rancadulang. In this house, it was suspected by the upstanding citizens, dark and heretical goings-on were taking place. A few dozen people in the house were forced to stop their religious service and flee.

The local residents accuse those who worship in the house of practising a deviant or heretical form of Islam. As proof they say …

Hasyim Muzadi Interview

… And there's the possibility the concern over the law comes from pornography businesses.

The Tangerang law against prostitution is also controversial, some see it as having the spirit of Islamisation. What do you think?

It's true that prostitution is already forbidden in the criminal code. If the police did their job they wouldn't need any special regional regulation against it. There's already a law against it but it's not enforced so people come to say that there is no law …

Preparatory Committee for the Application of Islamic Laws

… the following cities and regencies having implemented some sharia: Indramayu, Tasikmalaya, Garut, Tangerang, Cianjur, and Depok.

However in East Java, for example, the movement has met with virtually no success and militant groups such as the MMI and FPI (Islam Defenders Front) struggle to have much of an influence. This is likely due to the presence and strength of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in east Java. According to Ali Maschan Moesa, Chairman of the Regional NU Administrators for East …

Human Trash & Dangdut Singers

… the Depok administration to pass an anti-prostitution law along the lines of that in force in Tangerang, another satellite city of Jakarta. Any opposition to the passing of the law would be dealt with:

Wer'e ready to fight those who oppose the law being passed. Wer'e ready to sweep [rid the city of] organisations that oppose the [anti-prostitution] law.
(Kami siap melawan orang-orang yang menentang Perda tersebut disahkan. Kami siap men- sweeping LSM yang menolak Perda.)

The …

Sin Reduction in Jakarta

… of the MUI in Jakarta, Hamdan Rasyid said it would be along the lines of similar laws in Tangerang but more comprehensive, covering all sorts of sinful activities that Jakartans are prone to indulging in. These include prostitution, gambling, pornography, and drinking.

The rules we are proposing are more comprehensive.
(Aturan yang kami usulkan lebih komprehensif.)

All forms of immorality, not just prostitution and liquor.
(Segala bentuk kemaksiatan, tak hanya pelacuran …

Islamic Mob Rule

… municipalities and regions have passed sharia-inspired ordinances on public behavior and morality. Tangerang municipality, just outside Jakarta, has adopted a highly controversial prostitution bylaw that critics say degrades women. A similar ordinance is being considered by Depok municipality in West Java, and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and several regencies in South Sulawesi have also enacted Islamic by-laws.

The pornography bill being debated in the House of Representatives has been widely …

No Clemency Sought for Bali Bombers

… Ridwan said Tuesday the head of the Denpasar District Court had contacted Imam's family in Tangerang, Banten, and received their response on Tuesday that they rejected the offer of a clemency plea to the president.

Masyhudi said his office had also contacted the families of the two other Bali bombers, Amrozi and Ali Gufron (alias Mukhlas), whose families both live in Lamongan, East Java, on Tuesday but had received no response as yet.

Law No. 22/2002 states that the family of a …

Five Minute Limit for Smooching

Kissing in public for longer than five minutes in the city of Tangerang, near Jakarta, may land you on the wrong side of the law.

Tempo reports that the regulation was prepared in 2005 but has only now been considered for promulgation and enforcing. It is intended to be applied only to couples who are not married, ie teenagers.

It is not clear whether the kissing must be uninterrupted nor whether public order officials will go about with …

Comment by Pena Budaya: Tangerang public order spokesman Ahmad …

Muslim Groups Rally for Anti-Porn Bill

Muslim groups staged rallies yesterday at the Tangerang local council and the administration office in support of the pornography bill, which is being deliberated by the House of Representatives.

The Indonesian Hisbullah Front, Lembaga Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia and Majelis Taklim Larangan, said the bill could save the younger generation from moral degeneration.

Our intentions are pure. It's nothing political. The Tangerang …

Friday Prayers & Selling Food

One small step at a time the administration of Tangerang, a satellite city of Jakarta, seeks to implement sharia law. The latest foray in this area sees the local government attempt to ban the selling of food during Friday prayers.

The reports suggest that the ruling will apply only to kaki lima which are food carts that sell all sorts of drenched in oil fare, sometimes mobile, somtimes semi-permanent roadside fixtures. There is no …

Sang Timur Catholic School

The Sang Timur Roman Catholic school in the city of Tangerang, near Jakarta, which has about 2000 students, has been suffering constant harassment from local Muslim residents since, in October 2004, they built a wall at the main entrance to the school to prevent access.

The local Muslims apparently object to the school also being used as a place of worship, saying that under Indonesian law, it does not have permission to be used for this …

Christmas Eve in Jakarta

… Sulianto said that 80 bomb squads will be deployed at dozens of churches in Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok. He added:
We have been prepared to sweep churches in the capital to make sure they are safe,” he said. “As the result, we want to make sure that there should not any suspicious material left behind in the church ahead of mass prayer tonight.
The police are giving special attention to the Catholic Cathedral and the Protestant Immanuel Church in central Jakarta. The …