No clear-cut answers to tough abortion issues

By Christiani S. Tumelap

JAKARTA (JP): A religious leader, a lawyer, experts and members of the House of Representatives debated over the weekend the legal and moral questions posed by the abortion issue.

The Jakarta Post contacted them over the weekend following a public debate on the issue led by Indonesian Doctors' Association chairman Azrul Azwar.

Azrul called on the public last week to come up with a solution for the growing number of illegal abortions by legalizing the practice but applying conditions, such as a gestation limit for abortion.

The suggestion was rejected by chairman of Indonesian Ulemas Association (MUI) Hasan Basri and members of the House of Representatives, Ida Yusi Dahlan and Zarkasih Nur.

Hasan stressed that MUI was opposed to the killing of a fetus or unborn babies.

"Islamic values prohibit abortion on unborn babies, no matter how old the pregnancy is. We believe that a human's life starts at the time of fertilization. Thus, aborting a fetus is just the same as killing a human being," he said.

Abortion was allowed only with a doctor's recommendation because the pregnancy could put the mother's life in great danger, Hasan said.

"Unless for the sake of the mother's health and life, Islamic norms will never ever agree with to abortion practices," he said.

Ida, the chairwoman of House Commission VI for health and social affairs, also opposed Azrul's idea.

She said the mushrooming number of people who have abortions could not be used to justify the legalization of the practice.

"I don't see adequate advantages for legalizing the practice in our society.

"We're talking about morals here. As long as we stick to our moral and religious values, I don't think we will ever need to legalize it."

Morality

Ida's stand was supported by Zarkasih who chairs Commission VII for education, religion, sport and youth affairs.

He said that legalizing the practice was not the best way to solve moral problems, such as free sex and rape.

"A baby is, regardless of how he or she was made, innocent, a blessing from God. The baby doesn't take responsible for the parents' sins.

"Then, who are we to take his or her life away?

"My religion, Islam, never agrees with abortion unless it is for the sake of the mother's life. I think legalizing the practice for other reasons will only degrade the morals of our society."

Morality was also the catch cry of sociologist Sardjono Jatiman.

He called on the public to look deeper into the issue and find out its root rather than rushed toward the shortcut.

"I'm not saying that I agree with it (the idea of legalizing abortion). But, why don't we all sit down and talk about the real problem and carefully consider the advantages and drawbacks before deciding to quit or go forward with it."

He said legalizing abortion was not the way to handle the problem of "unwanted" babies.

"I'm afraid it will only ruin the existing system of values in our community," Sardjono said.

Experts such as lawyer Amir Syamsuddin, academician Arief Rachman and criminologist Harkristuti Harkrisnowo were discreetly agreeing with Azrul.

Amir, for example, suggested the new rules, if they were passed, should also clarify the legitimate reasons for the abortion.

Article 15 of the 1992 Health Law Number 23 allows abortion only with a doctors' recommendations after taking into consideration the mother's life.

"Maybe we can agree that abortion for rape victims is also legal."

But Amir warned the public not to demand full legalization for it would only increase the problems in society.

He also highlighted the importance of determining the maximum gestation of pregnancy which would be medically and morally acceptable for abortion.

The principal of the SMA 81 senior high school, Arief Rachman, agreed with abortion for married couples.

"I'd say that it's okay to apply a controlled legalization on abortion under the proviso that the gestation does not exceeded the religious criterion and the parents are legally married," he said.

Criminologist Harkristuti shared Amir's view, saying that abortion for rape victims could be tolerated.

"Abortion is, in my opinion, tolerable only if it is performed on rape victims or in cases of incest. Of course it is also all right if it is done for the sake of the mother's life," she said.

"But again, be very careful with the final decision because legalization can become an excuse for those who have premarital sex."