We briefly mentioned in Porn Wars the attitude of the Indonesian Mujahadin Council, Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI), towards those in Bali who objected to some of the provisions in the anti-pornography and indecency law. Looking at what the MMI had to say in detail opens ones eyes to certain Muslim attitudes to Bali and the Balinese.

First, on 8/3/2006, the leader of the MMI had made the scornful remark that Bali, if it insisted on rejecting the bill, should become a Daerah Khusus Pornografi, A Special [Autonomous] Pornography Region.

Then the MMI gave their opinion in a letter issued by their Information Data Department. It was called “Summons” and was directed specifically at the Governor of Bali and the leader of the provincial Balinese parliament, both of whom had vociferously objected to the bill stating that it would have a deleterious effect on the tourism industry if it were passed.

The full text of the “Summons” appears below and I’ll translate the salient parts.

Translation starts:

Concerning the attitude of the Governor of Bali and other figures over the passing of the anti-porn law we say the following:

1. The Balinese reliance on tourism is pathetic, it encourages prostitution, drug use, and sin. The Balinese have become slaves/servants in their own country.

2. There is no reason to oppose the bill because Balinese traditional clothing covers most of a woman’s aurat anyway and statues already have the naughty bits covered with cloth.

3. The threats by the Governor and the people of Bali to secede from Indonesia are a tyranny by a minority, are arrogant and smell of racial/ethnic/religious conflict/motivations, and besides that they are insulting to the majority Muslim population of Indonesia.

What we want:

1. We urge the government to take action against those elements who seek the disintegration of the country by using the anti-porn law as an excuse.

2. If the government doesn’t take action against the governor of Bali it means that it is, whether directly or not, derelict in its duty, subversive, and is lighting the fires of separatism.

3. If the armed forces do not deal with the separatists then the MMI and other Islamic organisations will handle it ourselves.

Oh Lord, witness, we have delivered the message, God is great!

End of translation.

The attitude to the Balinese is clearly one of We own you, you only exist because we suffer it, stay in line or else. Not all Indonesian Muslims have this attitude of course although even the most tolerant among them can sometimes find it hard to hide their disgust at some Balinese practices and habits. Muslim disgust is truly something to behold, there is an awful arrogance, and sometimes hatred, in it, and a stupidity, an utter failure or inability at empathy.

Looking through Muslim faithful forums can also be an eye-opener. This 10 page thread, at Hidayatullah, entitled “Bali & UU Antipornografi” will give some insight into the contempt for the Balinese among some.

Some gems from the first page:

orang kapir emang gitu….sukanya yang maksiat-maksiat namanya juga kapir! – Kafirs [non-Muslims] are just like that, they like sin, that’s why theyr’e kafirs!

Another person said he/she had lived in Bali for three months and noticed that the women bathed topless in the river in full view of the men on the opposite bank. This, the writer says earnestly, …….is against the law of Islam. Again it’s this “you live in our country” attitude, obey our rules.

Another: Ternyata narkoba dan seks menjadi pemasukan terbesar bagi pejabat dan polisi di pulau dewata, juga oknum2 lain, juga wts dan gigolo, penyumbang aids yg buanyak, kasus2 pedofilia..itu yg tersirat di sedikit berita, coba kalo di blow up semua?

Translation: It’s apparent that drugs and sex have become the main income for officials and police in Bali, and others, aids is everywhere, paedophilia, this is what is implied/implicit in the news, how about if it/them were just all blown up?

Hideous, evil people.

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Full original text of MMI “Summons”.

Somasi MMI terhadap Gubernur dan Pimpinan DPRD Bali.

MAJELIS MUJAHIDIN
DEPARTEMEN DATA DAN INFORMASI
Jalan Jatinegara Timur III no.26 Jaktim-13350 Tlp/Fax: 021-8517718

Nomor : 01/03/MM-DATIN/06
Lamp. : –
Perihal : SOMASI

Kepada:
1. Gubernur Propinsi Bali
2. Pimpinan DPRD TK I Bali Di Tempat

Setelah memperhatikan pernyataan Gubernur Bali I Made Dewabrata, pimpinan DPRD
Tk I Bali, dan sejumlah tokoh masyarakat Bali dalam menanggapi rencana
pengesahan RUU APP, maka kami ajukan SOMASI dengan alasan sebagai berikut:

1. Logika pariwisata sebagai tulang punggung perekonomian Bali untuk
menolak RUU APP adalah mengada-ada, karena masyarakat Bali sebelum ini hidup
tanpa pariwisata. Justru dengan mengundang wisatawan asing, kemaksiatan
merajalela, prostitusi tumbuh subur, narkoba bersimaharajalela, sehingga rakyat
Bali menjadi budak di negerinya sendiri.
2. Logika budaya untuk menolak RUU APP sama sekali tidak berdasarkan fakta
sosiologis dan filosofis, mengingat pakaian adat Bali relatif menutup aurat
(tidak telanjang). Bahkan patung-patung di sana pun diberi kain penutup.
3. Ancaman Gubernur dan masyarakat Bali untuk memisahkan diri dari NKRI
merupakan bentuk tirani minoritas dan arogansi yang bernuansa SARA serta ancaman
perang terhadap kedaulatan NKRI, di samping melecehkan penduduk mayoritas
muslim.

Mencermati pernyataan tersebut maka:
1. Kami mendesak Pemerintah cq TNI untuk segera bertindak tegas terhadap
anasir disintegrasi yang nampak jelas dengan memanfaatkan momentum penolakan
terhadap RUU APP.
2. Jika pemerintah SBY-JK membiarkan ancaman Gubernur Bali tersebut berarti
pemerintah secara langsung maupun tidak, telah merestui separatisme di wilayah
hukum NKRI, sehingga pemerintahannya merupakan pemerintahan subversif, anti
NKRI, dan menyulut konflik SARA.
3. Jika TNI tidak sanggup menanggulangi dan menghentikan sikap arogansi
dan anasir separatisme tersebut, maka Majelis Mujahidin bersama institusi Islam
lainnya siap untuk menyelesaikannya.

Ya Allah, saksikanlah, kami telah menyampaikan, Allahu Akbar!

Jakarta, 12 Maret 2006
Drs. Fauzan Al-Anshari, MM
Ketua (HP.0811-100138)