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)