Tarmizi wants religious teachings reinforced<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Parents and religious leaders are being called
\non to reinforce religious teachings as a means of instilling high
\nmoral values to inhibit illegal practices such as abortion.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said religious
\nteachings were important in curbing what he perceived to be a
\ndecline in moral values.<\/p>\n
\"I appeal to the nation, let's go back to the values contained
\nwithin our inner hearts,\" he told reporters during a break in a
\nhearing Tuesday with the House of Representatives' Commission VII
\nfor religion, education and youth.<\/p>\n
\"Whoever you are, officials, intellectuals, employees, if you
\nlack moral values, your future will be doomed,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the recent discovery of several fetuses from
\nillegal abortion practices in Jakarta, Tarmizi said he believed
\nthe moral decline in Indonesia's religious-based society stemmed
\nfrom modernization.<\/p>\n
\"Religious values have rapidly shifted. If we are not prudent,
\n(our religious origin) will be uprooted,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He argued that modernization has led society, particularly
\nintellectuals, to a life of materialism and hedonism.<\/p>\n
\"The specialists, the medics and the health assistants who
\nperformed the abortions were driven by money. And the unwanted
\npregnancies spawned from hedonism,\" said Tarmizi, who earned his
\nmedical degree from Surabaya's Airlangga University in East Java
\nin 1964.<\/p>\n
He urged the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Doctors'
\nAssociation and the police to take action against those
\nresponsible.<\/p>\n
Police confirmed Monday that the remains of at least 10
\nfetuses found buried in the front yard of a clinic in Tanah
\nTinggi, Central Jakarta, were from suspected abortions.<\/p>\n
The latest discovery follows the unearthing of 10 bones,
\nbelieved to be from aborted fetuses, and an infant skeleton in
\nthe backyard of a school for disabled children in Central Jakarta
\nand another 11 remains in North Jakarta over the past two weeks.<\/p>\n
All were believed to be a result of abortion.<\/p>\n
Investigation<\/p>\n
Police are investigating the alleged involvement of two
\nclinics -- Herlina and Amalia -- in the abortion practices.<\/p>\n
Police have detained 13 suspects, including the owners of
\nHerlina and Amalia clinics, two doctors, a gardener and a school
\nemployee.<\/p>\n
Under the Criminal Code, abortion is strictly prohibited. But
\nArticle No. 15 of Health Law No. 23\/1992 allows abortion under
\ncertain medical situations.<\/p>\n
A Health Ministry official claimed that many working in the
\nhealth profession violate the abortion law.<\/p>\n
\"They know (about the law) but they violate it in their
\nmedical practices,\" Budhi Yahmono, the head of the bureau for
\nlegal affairs and public relations, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Despite the recent discoveries, he said the abortion law was
\nstill sufficient, but a tough application of sanction was needed
\nto deter such practices.<\/p>\n
\"The sanction must be applied to those who break the law, and
\nit must be exercised through open investigation and court so the
\npublic will be aware of the violations,\" said Budhi.<\/p>\n
He added that chapter one of Article No. 80 of the abortion
\nlaw stipulates a maximum 15-year sentence and Rp 500 million
\nfine. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tarmizi-wants-religious-teachings-reinforced-1447893297",
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