Groups protest pornography in the media
Groups protest pornography in the media
JAKARTA (JP): Calls for the government and law enforcers to
take stern measures against pornography in the media are
mounting, with street rallies being staged in the capital over
the last two days by Islamic and women's groups.
Dozens of women Muslim students, grouped in Calls for Human
Peace (Seruni) and the Indonesian Muslim Student Action Union
(KAMMI) disembarked from their buses on Thursday and staged a
rally in front of the National Police Headquarters on the busy
Jl. Trunojoyo in South Jakarta.
The students, attired in Muslim apparel, unfurled banners and
repeatedly chanted: "Women should respect their aurat (private
parts)."
The protest was also aimed at artists and photo models who
have posed for sensual photos in tabloids and magazines,
including Sophia Latjuba who was recently grilled by police as a
witness in one such case.
One of their banners read "Sophie (Sophia's nickname) and
friends, don't show your bodies".
"Our action is a moral call and a form of rejection of
vulgarity. This protest in part displays our concern about
abusive freedom of the press," the group's coordinator, Azimah
S., told a sea of scarfed women.
Law enforcers, therefore, have to process those who violate
the code of ethics and the Indonesian Press Council's control
over the press should be improved, she said.
The National Police recently questioned witnesses regarding
issues of Popular magazine, Pop tabloid, Obyektif tabloid and
Liberty magazine, in relation to its investigation into
violations of the press' code of ethics.
On Wednesday, at least 100 Muslim youths grouped in the Action
Front for the Love of the Country staged a rally in front of the
National Police Headquarters.
Pornography is considered another form of sexual harassment
against women, the group said in a statement.
No heavy traffic congestion occurred during Wednesday's two-
hour protest as the police tightly guarded the group, keeping the
youths close to the headquarters and not allowing them to make
the busy street their stage.
Shortly after their arrival at 10 a.m., the group's
representatives were met by an officer from the police's
information unit, Col. Saleh Saaf.
Films
During the brief meeting, the group handed over 10 video
compact discs (VCDs) of Asian and European pornographic films and
several magazines and tabloids, including Popular and Liberty
magazines, which are both under police investigation.
Before handing the material over to the police, the group let
reporters check the VCDs and the magazines. However, when the
items were about to be handed to officer Saleh, it was noticed
that one of the VCDs was missing from its cover.
Last Friday, head of National Police detectives for general
crimes Col. Makhbul Padmanagara acknowledged that the public
might consider the police narrow-minded for their efforts to
investigate such violations.
Many would claim the pictures in the magazines were forms of
art and not pornography, he said.
"But long before we started this investigation, we heard from
experts coming from many disciplines," he said.
Police have so far questioned several artists, photo models
and magazine photographers as witnesses.
"We'll name the suspects as the investigation unfolds, so
we'll hear from the witnesses first," Makhbul said.
Makhbul hinted it was likely that chief editors of Popular
monthly magazine, Liberty magazine, Pop tabloid and Obyektif
tabloid would be held responsible for the distribution of
pornography in their respective publications.
A police source, however, said there were at least 14
publications facing similar charges, but he declined to disclose
their names.
If indicted, the editors of the publications could be charged
with violating Article 282 on ethics which carries a maximum one
year and six months imprisonment and a fine of Rp 3,000.(emf)