Morality Police
Dec 4th, 2007, in News, by PatungSome fear the rise of a morality police.
Article 22 of the revised draft for the anti pornography law (Rancangan Undang Undang Anti Pornografi dan Pornoaksi (RUU APP)) states:
Everyone has a role in preventing the production, distribution, and consumption of pornography.
Some groups, such as:
- International Conference for Religion and Peace (ICRP)
- Aliansi Nasional Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
- Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace
- Aliansi Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
representatives of which met at the Nahdatul Ulama building in Jl. Kramat, Jakarta on 3rd December, fear that this article, among others, will result in the creation of a morality police in Indonesia intent on rooting out pornography, or more instances of “sweeping” against places where sinful activities are known to be going on.
Hendardi of the Setara Institute says:
Articles 22 and 24 could create anarchy with irresponsible groups using the law to suit themselves…..Groups could come into existence [perhaps like Bandung Sin Watch] which act as morality police.
He said the RUU should make it clear that only the police had the authority to enforce laws.
As part of the long-running debate on the bill, and even though the current version of the draft is a watered down version of the original, Ratna Sarumpaet from Aliansi Bhinneka Tunggal Ika says:
I still don’t think this law is necessary because pornography is already dealt with in other laws.
DVD/VCD porn movies are already proscribed in the law on Intellectual Property and child pornography is dealt with in the Child Protection law, she says. The current laws simply needed to be strengthened and/or better enforced. republika
13 Comments on “Morality Police”
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Dragonwall says:
Evi Sukaesi had turn her cheek by covering herself..I suppose Inul might follow suit.
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falcon says:
What is the difference with the middle eastern dance. Is growing in popularity in Indonesia, is that also considered pornography? Many individuals are becoming insane, sad but true.
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iamisaid says:
Hi falcon,
Quote: “What is the difference with the middle eastern dance”
I suppose you are drawing a comparison between dangdut ala Inul’s dance method and the middle eastern dance.
All that I know about the middle eastern dance is from what Hollywood’s portraysl of belly dancers. I am not sure if it is as Hollywood portrays it or maybe even worse. I have never watched a live middle eastern dance performance.
Nevertheless, the middle eastern women veiled faces, teat covers and robust jiggling of their lower torso is also comparable in some ways with the dance of the Polynesian women.
In that both the middle eastern and Polynesian dances are considered cultural, it would be nigh impossible to say that their dance veers towards pornography.
However, I find Inul’s expression of dangdut dance is not in the same league. I might be wrong through ignorance if Inul’s method is the cultural dance expression for dangdut music.
I found several of her dance moves disgusting.
For example, Inul, her body bent half backward as she gyrated towards the spectators, then tantalised spectators in the front row whilst she shook her pubis region at them with her legs wide apart. She repeated that dance move whenever it seemed like she finally defeated the red ants her all over her barely clad body.
If she did that at a strip tease joint I would not have anything to comment. It was not the case. She was performing in public with hundreds of youth in the crowd and her show was televised.
I am questioning without a prudish mind or am I seeing evil where there is none. Just my observation and personal appreciation about the way Inul does her thing.
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raden says:
this is why this country move backward … the brains full of rubbish like waste bins … what is the root cause ?
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dewaratugedeanom says:
Iamisaid said
In that both the middle eastern and Polynesian dances are considered cultural, it would be nigh impossible to say that their dance veers towards pornography.
However, I find Inul’s expression of dangdut dance is not in the same league. I might be wrong through ignorance if Inul’s method is the cultural dance expression for dangdut music”¦
I am questioning without a prudish mind or am I seeing evil where there is none. Just my observation and personal appreciation about the way Inul does her thing.
Inul’s antics seem highly inspired by the sega dance from Mauritius in the Mascarene islands where it is considered a cultural icon. Almost every Balinese joged dancer nowadays has incorporated Inul’s goyang ngebor in her program, to the delight of spectators and participants alike.
Egyptian and Moroccan belly dancers are (still) highly popular in a country where dress code for women is rampant. It may be a gray area where sensuality ends and pornography begins, so why not let the people decide for themselves between good taste and bad taste. In the end quality will prevail and even become culture.Go, Inul, go”¦ Merdeka!
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Hi dewaratugedanom,
Quote:
“Inul’s antics seem highly inspired by the sega dance from Mauritius in the Mascarene islands where it is considered a cultural icon.”
LOL, “antics” aptly describes her prancing haphazardly around, without an artistic expression of the human body in the fine arts called a dance. When she does her thing then stops (while dangdut music is still playing), struts around for a while and resumes, she reminds me of circus fire eaters.
Quote:
“It may be a gray area where sensuality ends and pornography begins,”
I agree and it is a tough call on that one. Perhaps a wrong anomaly here but it is like my neighbour’s young daughter who stared wide eyed and gaped while a flasher, unzipped his pants, wanked himself and left. Would the young girl be curious to discover more once she overcomes her initial bewilderment? Gray area.
Akin to Inul going through what appears more like some kind of individual sexual ritual instead of a dance, and the young spectators gaining vicarious experience from her gross feminine sexuality. What are the ramifications on the youthful spectators? Gray area.
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Oigal says:
What business is it of anyone elses ..don’t like don’t watch..
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Sputjam says:
The only sinful place that is not raided is the mosque, where people are enslaved by Imams and forced to do things against God’s wishes.
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iamisaid
Akin to Inul going through what appears more like some kind of individual sexual ritual instead of a dance, and the young spectators gaining vicarious experience from her gross feminine sexuality.
Is she performing a sexual ritual? I thought she was doing aerobics. 😉
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dewaratugedeanom said :
“I thought she was doing aerobics.”
me: Gosh! now that you’ve mentioned aerobics. Brings back memories when I was a young officer. There was this oo-la-la of a girl at the same office. Some of us lads came up with all kinds of reasons to attend aerobics where she attended.
I was lucky one time to be right behind her. Perverted delight each time the aerobics guru had all of us to bend forward ! Ha ha ha ha.
Back to Inul – as I said, “appears” more like some kind of individual sexual rite. You know, limbering up and Inul having one hell of a orgasm each time the crowd goes into a frenzy.
Good grief! am I begining to sound like our pal, Achmad Sudarsono?
Ha ha ha ha
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nelson says:
Raden Says:
what is the root cause?
Answer: Islam
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So … will Indonesia’s anti-porn bill protect or repress the non muslims population ? we knew the muslim hardliners are the main sponsor of those anti-porn (plus the unique Indonesian ‘porno-aksi’ term which means very blur, ambiguous in meaning and can be interpreted as the acts of kissing between lovers in public, the scantily female dress fashions, etc).
When this controversial bill will be endorsed soon by the parliament, then there will be the morality police which as usual accept bribe money, it is the time for the Indonesian minorities group to stay away and migrate to other countries. By then we will witness another round of genocide among different muslims in Indonesia for different topics similar to Iraq, Pakistan, Afganistan, etc … Good luck to the new era of radical muslim Indonesia
Comment on “Morality Police”.
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Would the dangdut dance ala Inul style be considered in the same vein?
Having had a few occasions to watch Inul perform at televised public gatherings, I consider the way she dances to dangdut music really lewd and highly suggestive.
Her highly charged gyrations are imitated by the young. Tikka, the daughter of a close Indonesian friend imitates Inul whenever she hears dangdut music. For now, it seems harmless but I wonder what will grow on this girl later on in years.