'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.