`Ngebor' dance divides the people

`Ngebor' dance divides the people

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There is no other entertainer who has divided Indonesia as much
as Inul Daratista. Some loath her, others love her.

The ones who frown upon her include clerics from the
Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the Alliance for Anti-
Pornography Society and the Association of Malay Music Artists.

But the young dangdut singer has been backed by no less than
the family of President Megawati Soekarnoputri - her husband
Taufik Kiemas and her brother Guruh Soekarnoputra -- Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso, former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid
and Saparinah Sadli of the National Commission for Women.

Since the downfall of authoritarian president Soeharto in
1998, Indonesians have been trying to promote freedom of
expression and are becoming more sensitive towards any moves to
limit it.

At the center of the controversy is Inul's sizzling dance, a
sometimes dynamic, sometimes slow and sensual movement of her
hips, the style of which has been labeled as "drilling".

The latest criticism came from dangdut king Rhoma Irama, who
publicly condemned Inul late last month, saying she had degraded
the image of dangdut.

Rhoma went further, saying Inul's performance could tear apart
the nation's social fabric, encouraging sex and even rape. His
comments echoed those made by MUI, who were referring to the
alleged confession of a man who said he raped a child after
watching Inul's pirated VCD.

The very idea has enraged women's groups, who say Inul should
not be blamed for the crime but instead Indonesia's poor law
enforcement.

A number of artists and scholars have condemned Rhoma for
attempting to restrict Inul's freedom of expression.

However, after a meeting with Gus Dur, also a patron of
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim organization,
Rhoma toned down his 'indictment', saying that he would not allow
Inul to sing his songs.

The controversy has also sparked debate as to who has the
authority to decide what can be seen in public and what
cannot.

Gus Dur said last week that the only authority that could
determine that question, was the Indonesian Supreme Court.

NU deputy chairman Solahuddin Wahid told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday that freedom of expression must be maintained to protect
the spirit of democracy.

However, he urged people not to take advantage of the
situation by pushing limits already set by society.

He said each person should have the right to object to Inul's
performance. However, one was simply wrong if they attempted to
restrict her freedom of expression.

Moslem intellectual Ulil Absdar Abdala said freedom of
expression was essentially diverse, and therefore it must be
preserved, not disturbed by the issues of religion and morality.

"Is it so simple that Inul's dance is the solitary cause of
promiscuity and rape?

"It is simply unacceptable for one person to restrict
another's freedom, particularly in relation to one's right to
express themselves," he said.

Inul herself has said she would take a break from television
appearances and would limit her movements.

However, her planned tour of several Asian countries, the
U.S., Australia and the Netherlands would proceed.

Inul was born into poverty as Ainul Rokhimah in a small
village of Gempol in East Java on Jan. 21, 1979.

She originally aspired to become a rock singer but decided to
focus on dangdut, a popular folk music mixing Indian rhythms and
Malay influences, among others. It is often associated with poor
people.

However it was not until recently that pirated VCDs of her
performances hit the market and her popularity skyrocketed
nationwide.

Her fame only increased after MUI issued its edict in
February, saying her hip movements were not fit for public
viewing.

The media have been in love with her ever since, reporting
every detail of the controversy.

Her tale is one of rags to riches. She now earns up to Rp 20
million per show, compared to her humble beginnings when she
commanded just Rp 3,500 (US 40 cents), traveling from one village
to another.

Inul is like a magnet, attracting a huge crowd wherever she
performs, mesmerizing her devoted fans with the innovative
drilling dance.

"Inul's phenomena has widened our cultural horizon," Ulil
said.

Inul is breaking new ground, taking over from where Rhoma and
his Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple inspired dangdut music or Koes
Plus and their Beatles' inspired works left off, Ulil said.

He said that music was an art and each individual should be
given the freedom to choose what was best for themselves.