'Attack on Inul against freedom of expression'

'Attack on Inul against freedom of expression'

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hundreds of protesters hit the streets on Friday in front of
Hotel Indonesia, Central Jakarta, to demonstrate support for
dangdut performer Inul Daratista, who in recent weeks has been
the center of attention regarding her titillating performances.

At the traffic circle in front of the hotel, activists of the
Indonesian Women's Coalition (KPI) and Komnas Perempuan (the
National Commission for Women), as well as film actors and
actresses, imitated Inul's gyrating hip movements, known as
"drilling", to show their support for freedom of expression.

Since the fall of authoritarian president Soeharto in 1998,
Indonesians have been trying to promote freedom of expression and
are becoming more sensitive toward any measures that might limit
it.

"Inul's performance gives us, ordinary people, some sort of
entertainment and freedom, as, for 32 years under Soeharto, we
lived under authoritarian rule," said Dyah Bintarini from KPI.

Several senior performers of dangdut (popular music with
Indian and Arabic influences), led by "king of dangdut" Rhoma
Irama, had earlier condemned Inul's "drilling", saying that it
gave dangdut a bad name by promoting free sex and rape among the
young. He also said that her dance was an insult to religion and
morality.

Several religious leaders, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
patron Abdurrahman Wahid, have expressed support for Inul and her
"drilling".

In a bid to diffuse tension, Rhoma met with Abdurrahman at the
NU headquarters on Friday evening.

At 5 p.m. on Friday, Inul's supporters followed a pickup truck
blaring dangdut music from a loudspeaker that circled the
fountain at the traffic circle, while imitating Inul's trademark
"drilling".

Traffic became congested along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin,
with motorists occasionally shouting support for Inul.

Rumors were rife that Inul herself would appear at the traffic
circle, but as of 6:30 p.m. there was no sign of her.

Inul's has been a rags-to-riches success story, as her
"drilling" has earned her a spot as one of the nation's top
performers. She is reportedly the highest earner among
entertainers, raking in Rp 700 million (US$78,000) per month.

Meanwhile, support for Inul was also expressed by hundreds of
West Java dangdut artists, who held a similar demonstration in
Cirebon.

The artists viewed Rhoma as simply arrogant in considering
himself the authority on dangdut music.