`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.