'People fear authoritarianism more than eroticism'

'People fear authoritarianism more than eroticism'

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesians may have become more open to eroticism as reflected
in Inul Daratista's ngebor or drilling dance, but they fear the
reemergence of authoritarianism as in dangdut music artist King
Rhoma Irama, who condemns her style of dance, sociologists have
said.

Imam B. Prasodjo, a leading sociologist, said on Monday that
Inul's style of dance was only one instance of the many erotic
images allowed to be aired or published freely across the
country.

"We are seeing a shift in moral values as everywhere we look
there are erotic images and suggestions, in film, language and
pictures, which are freely aired or published without any social
or legal sanctions," he told the Jakarta Post.

He cited the increase in various tabloids that cater to the
sex industry, racy advertisements and erotic forms of dance in
the country.

"But if Inul's dancing, which can be categorized as sensual,
is prohibited by an organization headed by Rhoma Irama, people
will be against this authoritarian move rather than her dancing."

He said those who supported Inul when Rhoma openly condemned
her style of dance were in actual fact against authoritarianism,
which had terrified people in the past.

Under these circumstances, those who have money are the ones
who can get the most benefit as they can gain a lucrative profit
from marketing Inul's performances, he said.

A number of politicians, artists and women's rights activists
have thrown their support behind Inul to continue performing her
sizzling gyrations as "freedom of expression".

Their support came after Rhoma Irama, from the Association of
Malay Music Artists, condemned Inul's dance, charging that her
performances encouraged sex and even incited rape.

His condemnation was the latest move made by an organization
after the Indonesia Council of Ulemas (MUI) and the Alliance for
the Anti-Pornography Society called on Inul to stop her dancing.

Imam added that people in the country should start discussing
how to limit eroticism or pornography would increase if morals
were not upheld.

"The creation of an antipornography law is the best solution
and it is relevant to this situation, so that we can fairly limit
those who are allowed and not allowed to perform in public," he
said.

Imam said he did not want to imagine what the future of the
country's culture and morals would be like if Inul's dance was
allowed to be taught in schools and followed by other singers in
the name of freedom of expression.

"If Inul's dance was performed by bikini-clad women, should we
allow the dance?" he said, adding that a number of questions
should be raised to determine which erotic dances are
pornographic.

Ida Ruwaida of the sociology department of the University of
Indonesia said that people in Indonesia, particularly in big
cities, had become increasingly more permissive in their sexual
behavior.

"Through the media, erotic dances, cinema, sensual images and
student porn compact discs have been produced. I think our
society has not only become a sexually obsessed society, but also
a sexually active one," she said.

Inul is only a small part of that eroticism, she added.

Therefore, she said, if people in this country want to limit
eroticism or even pornography, they should not only censor Inul's
dance but also other erotic performances.

But as people do not yet have this authority, state
institutions should be temporarily allowed to censor images, she
said.

"We know that a censorship body failed to meet people's
demands in the past, but the point is now we should have a body
that can work effectively to censor the rampant pornography," she
said.

Otherwise, Ida said, there would be a large-scale deception of
the people through the mass media.

She said even in developed countries, pornography was also
censored, and suggestive material was shown at times when
children would not able to watch it.

She said that once audiences were mature enough, the
censorship body would not be necessary and people could set up
their own watchdog agencies.