`Ngebor' dance divides the people<\/p>\n
Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
There is no other entertainer who has divided Indonesia as much
\nas Inul Daratista. Some loath her, others love her.<\/p>\n
The ones who frown upon her include clerics from the
\nIndonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the Alliance for Anti-
\nPornography Society and the Association of Malay Music Artists.<\/p>\n
But the young dangdut singer has been backed by no less than
\nthe family of President Megawati Soekarnoputri - her husband
\nTaufik Kiemas and her brother Guruh Soekarnoputra -- Jakarta
\nGovernor Sutiyoso, former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid
\nand Saparinah Sadli of the National Commission for Women.<\/p>\n
Since the downfall of authoritarian president Soeharto in
\n1998, Indonesians have been trying to promote freedom of
\nexpression and are becoming more sensitive towards any moves to
\nlimit it.<\/p>\n
At the center of the controversy is Inul's sizzling dance, a
\nsometimes dynamic, sometimes slow and sensual movement of her
\nhips, the style of which has been labeled as \"drilling\".<\/p>\n
The latest criticism came from dangdut king Rhoma Irama, who
\npublicly condemned Inul late last month, saying she had degraded
\nthe image of dangdut.<\/p>\n
Rhoma went further, saying Inul's performance could tear apart
\nthe nation's social fabric, encouraging sex and even rape. His
\ncomments echoed those made by MUI, who were referring to the
\nalleged confession of a man who said he raped a child after
\nwatching Inul's pirated VCD.<\/p>\n
The very idea has enraged women's groups, who say Inul should
\nnot be blamed for the crime but instead Indonesia's poor law
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
A number of artists and scholars have condemned Rhoma for
\nattempting to restrict Inul's freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
However, after a meeting with Gus Dur, also a patron of
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim organization,
\nRhoma toned down his 'indictment', saying that he would not allow
\nInul to sing his songs.<\/p>\n
The controversy has also sparked debate as to who has the
\nauthority to decide what can be seen in public and what
\ncannot.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur said last week that the only authority that could
\ndetermine that question, was the Indonesian Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
NU deputy chairman Solahuddin Wahid told The Jakarta Post on
\nThursday that freedom of expression must be maintained to protect
\nthe spirit of democracy.<\/p>\n
However, he urged people not to take advantage of the
\nsituation by pushing limits already set by society.<\/p>\n
He said each person should have the right to object to Inul's
\nperformance. However, one was simply wrong if they attempted to
\nrestrict her freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
Moslem intellectual Ulil Absdar Abdala said freedom of
\nexpression was essentially diverse, and therefore it must be
\npreserved, not disturbed by the issues of religion and morality.<\/p>\n
\"Is it so simple that Inul's dance is the solitary cause of
\npromiscuity and rape?<\/p>\n
\"It is simply unacceptable for one person to restrict
\nanother's freedom, particularly in relation to one's right to
\nexpress themselves,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Inul herself has said she would take a break from television
\nappearances and would limit her movements.<\/p>\n
However, her planned tour of several Asian countries, the
\nU.S., Australia and the Netherlands would proceed.<\/p>\n
Inul was born into poverty as Ainul Rokhimah in a small
\nvillage of Gempol in East Java on Jan. 21, 1979.<\/p>\n
She originally aspired to become a rock singer but decided to
\nfocus on dangdut, a popular folk music mixing Indian rhythms and
\nMalay influences, among others. It is often associated with poor
\npeople.<\/p>\n
However it was not until recently that pirated VCDs of her
\nperformances hit the market and her popularity skyrocketed
\nnationwide.<\/p>\n
Her fame only increased after MUI issued its edict in
\nFebruary, saying her hip movements were not fit for public
\nviewing.<\/p>\n
The media have been in love with her ever since, reporting
\nevery detail of the controversy.<\/p>\n
Her tale is one of rags to riches. She now earns up to Rp 20
\nmillion per show, compared to her humble beginnings when she
\ncommanded just Rp 3,500 (US 40 cents), traveling from one village
\nto another.<\/p>\n
Inul is like a magnet, attracting a huge crowd wherever she
\nperforms, mesmerizing her devoted fans with the innovative
\ndrilling dance.<\/p>\n
\"Inul's phenomena has widened our cultural horizon,\" Ulil
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Inul is breaking new ground, taking over from where Rhoma and
\nhis Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple inspired dangdut music or Koes
\nPlus and their Beatles' inspired works left off, Ulil said.<\/p>\n
He said that music was an art and each individual should be
\ngiven the freedom to choose what was best for themselves.<\/p>",
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