'Attack on Inul against freedom of expression'<\/p>\n
Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hundreds of protesters hit the streets on Friday in front of
\nHotel Indonesia, Central Jakarta, to demonstrate support for
\ndangdut performer Inul Daratista, who in recent weeks has been
\nthe center of attention regarding her titillating performances.<\/p>\n
At the traffic circle in front of the hotel, activists of the
\nIndonesian Women's Coalition (KPI) and Komnas Perempuan (the
\nNational Commission for Women), as well as film actors and
\nactresses, imitated Inul's gyrating hip movements, known as
\n\"drilling\", to show their support for freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
Since the fall of authoritarian president Soeharto in 1998,
\nIndonesians have been trying to promote freedom of expression and
\nare becoming more sensitive toward any measures that might limit
\nit.<\/p>\n
\"Inul's performance gives us, ordinary people, some sort of
\nentertainment and freedom, as, for 32 years under Soeharto, we
\nlived under authoritarian rule,\" said Dyah Bintarini from KPI.<\/p>\n
Several senior performers of dangdut (popular music with
\nIndian and Arabic influences), led by \"king of dangdut\" Rhoma
\nIrama, had earlier condemned Inul's \"drilling\", saying that it
\ngave dangdut a bad name by promoting free sex and rape among the
\nyoung. He also said that her dance was an insult to religion and
\nmorality.<\/p>\n
Several religious leaders, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\npatron Abdurrahman Wahid, have expressed support for Inul and her
\n\"drilling\".<\/p>\n
In a bid to diffuse tension, Rhoma met with Abdurrahman at the
\nNU headquarters on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
At 5 p.m. on Friday, Inul's supporters followed a pickup truck
\nblaring dangdut music from a loudspeaker that circled the
\nfountain at the traffic circle, while imitating Inul's trademark
\n\"drilling\".<\/p>\n
Traffic became congested along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin,
\nwith motorists occasionally shouting support for Inul.<\/p>\n
Rumors were rife that Inul herself would appear at the traffic
\ncircle, but as of 6:30 p.m. there was no sign of her.<\/p>\n
Inul's has been a rags-to-riches success story, as her
\n\"drilling\" has earned her a spot as one of the nation's top
\nperformers. She is reportedly the highest earner among
\nentertainers, raking in Rp 700 million (US$78,000) per month.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, support for Inul was also expressed by hundreds of
\nWest Java dangdut artists, who held a similar demonstration in
\nCirebon.<\/p>\n
The artists viewed Rhoma as simply arrogant in considering
\nhimself the authority on dangdut music.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/attack-on-inul-against-freedom-of-expression-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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