15 NGOs establish new antiporn society
JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen nongovernmental organizations founded the Anti-Pornographic Society (MTP) on Wednesday in an effort to curb pornographic images in the media.
The organization was formed by, among others, the National Indonesian Youth Committee (KNPI), Center of Law Advocacy and Human Rights (PAHAM), Indonesian Muslim Student Action Front (KAMMI) and the Media Watch and Consumer Center (MWCC).
MTP board member, film director Chaerul Umam, said that pornography in the print and electronic media had reached an alarming level.
"I can't even watch TV with my kids without feeling awkward when commercials with pornographic scenes are shown," Chaerul told The Jakarta Post.
Other members of MTP's board include political observer Imam B. Prasodjo and TV host Ferrasta Soebardi, popularly known as Pepeng.
The country, especially the capital, has witnessed an increasing amount of publications that feature semipornographic pictures and stories.
The South Jakarta District Court last month sentenced chief editor of Matra monthly, Robertus Riantiarno, to a five-month suspended jail term for publishing semipornographic pictures in its June and July editions last year.
Many other publications, however -- particularly tabloids -- continue to run far more potentially offensive pictures and stories, which flood newsstands in the city without any significant action from the authorities.
MTP secretary Azimah Sobagjo said the organization had already made a detailed plan to launch its mission, which includes a proposal to draft an antipornography law.
"The draft requires, among other things, a clear definition on materials that are (legally) considered pornographic," Azimah told the Post.
She said that in her view all materials capable of inducing sexual arousal should be considered as pornography.
In its statement, MTP also complained about the "true" first- person accounts of rape victims in some media, saying that they were solely intended to arouse readers.
MTP chairwoman Nur Indrawati Pari said that her new organization was ready to file complaints to the publishers of magazines and newspapers that feature pornography.
"We are also ready to launch a campaign to mold public opinion against pornography," Nur said.
Another antipornography association, the Indonesian Society Against Piracy and Pornography (MAPPI), was launched on Jan. 24.
The organization is chaired by Abdul Wahid Aziz Bisri, who is also chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Jami'a Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization and a cousin of President Abdurrahman Wahid.(08)