More artists stand behind 'raunchy' singer Inul
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The country's dangdut world is seeing one of the most important developments now as singer Inul Daratista, whose "sensual" movements on stage have enraged some ulemas and fellow artists, has received strong support from various groups.
Dozens of artists gathered in Central Jakarta on Wednesday to express support for the controversial dangdut singer Inul, saying any move to curb freedom of expression should be rejected.
The gathering at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) came a day after former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid made a similar statement after lunching with Inul.
"We strongly reject and condemn any effort to discredit Inul and the artistic expression that she has chosen," the artists said in a statement read out by playwright and actress Ratna Sarumpaet.
They said that banning Inul and her trademark gyrating hip movements -- called "the drilling dance" -- would set a bad precedent.
Among those attending the gathering were film director Jajang C. Noer and respected scholar Tommy F. Awuy. Artists who offered support but did not attend included Butet Kertarajasa, Mira Lesmana, Putu Wijaya, Gunawan Mohamad and Krisdayanti.
Further protests in support of Inul are planned, including a gathering by women's rights activists at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Friday afternoon, when they would perform the "drilling dance" for three minutes.
Dangdut is a local music with strong Indian/Arabic influence.
The controversy began earlier this year when the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) banned Inul for breaching ethics and norms, which they claimed would have a negative impact.
A number of rapists have claimed they attacked their victims after watching Inul on television.
The MUI ban only increased the popularity of the 24-year old from Pasuruan, East Java. She appears in print or on television on an almost daily basis, and has even appeared in Time magazine and Newsweek.
She also won the hearts of no less than Taufik Kiemas, the husband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.
Last week however, Indonesia's dangdut king, Rhoma Irama, said Inul and her dirty dancing had tarnished dangdut. Rhoma, supported by a number of other artists, banned Inul from singing their songs.
Inul apologized to Rhoma, who is also a former Golkar legislator and a kyai (Muslim cleric) who often sings to spread the religion, and promised that she would not dance like she used to.
But after strong public support Inul sought a meeting with Gus Dur, a former leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, who said Rhoma had gone too far and had hurt freedom of expression and creativity.
He said only the courts had the right to ban Inul if they ruled she had broken the law.
Gus Dur, an influential figure in NU's National Awakening Party (PKB), said the meeting, also involving party deputy chairman Mahfud MD, was not an attempt to recruit Inul for political campaigning.
Political parties commonly use artists during campaigns.