Activists say SBY's navel ire a case of bellyaching
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Observers on Saturday lashed out at President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his statements regarding certain TV programs, which he said were inappropriate because they showed the bare navels of women.
They said the President paid too much attention to minor issues while his administration had a myriad of far more important problems to address, ranging from poverty to widespread corruption.
The critics claimed that the President was simplifying moral decadence as manifested in Indonesia's rampant corruption and violence.
"Does the President really have to deal with such a small matter?" media observer Veven SP Wardhana told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
He said that if the President was truly concerned about obscenity on TV screens, he should look at more significant issues such as TV programs that exploited violence.
"A navel is not a big deal, and the President needs to remind himself that some people will consider his words to be an order, which could threaten freedom of expression and artistic performance," Veven, a senior journalist, said.
Women's activist Nursyahbani Katjasungkana concurred with Veven, saying that if the President had to make comment on TV programs then there were far worse TV shows than those that happened to display the navels of women.
"Crime stories, for instance, exploit brutality and sometimes ignore the press code of ethics. The President should have commented on those issues," Nursyahbani said.
Susilo, after hearing a sermon at Friday prayers, asked Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab to convey his concerns about the attire of performers and artists in TV programs.
The President, according to Alwi, said these actors and performers should wear attire that covered their bodies.
Susilo did not elaborate on what actions the government would take against TV channels that went against his call.
Nursyahbani, also a House of Representatives legislator and a lawyer, suggested that the President impose policies to curb TV programs considered as obscene.
"For instance, limit the amount of air time for adult movies or, like in other countries, move such shows to pay-TV," she said.
However, she added, clear guidelines were mandatory so as to prevent restrictions from infringing upon freedom of expression.
"We should not let excessive morality threaten our freedom of expression, that's why we have to set clear regulations," she said.
When asked how she, being a woman and a mother, felt about women displaying their navels, Nursyahbani said: "I really don't mind as long as it is not vulgar. Besides, as a native of Madura, my traditional attire exposes a woman's navel."