VCD vendors make killing with local skin-flick

JAKARTA (JP): A pornographic video compact disc (VCD) featuring young Indonesians is a fast selling item in the vicinity of the Glodok Harco electronics shopping complex in West Jakarta.

The VCD, titled Anak Ingusan (The Underaged Child), costs more than other pornographic titles with foreign actors. It is believed to be the first hard-core pornographic VCD featuring local actors.

Vendors are offering the VCD for between Rp 30,000 and Rp 40,000 (US$3.50 and $4.70), but will accept Rp 20,000 after bargaining.

Foreign titles sell for Rp 8,000 each.

Several VCD vendors in the area who were interviewed separately by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday said sales of pornographic VCDs had skyrocketed.

"I no longer have that title, it was sold out two weeks ago," vendor Maman, said.

Maman said that people kept inquiring about Anak Ingusan at his stall.

"Many people are curious about whether it really features Indonesians or not. I wasn't sure until I saw it myself," Maman said.

Another vendor, who introduced himself by his family name, Sinaga, said there was strong interest in Anak Ingusan because it was the only one with local actors.

"There are many VCDs with Indonesian titles offered here, but they actually feature Thais," Sinaga said.

Pornographic VCDs with foreign actors and Indonesian titles that are available in the area include Suka Sama Suka (Like Each Other) or Gadis Impian (Dream Girl).

The unprofessionally produced pornographic video opens with scenes showing several recreational areas, accompanied by Spice Girls' Two Becomes One.

Judging from the jerky camera movements and low picture quality, the hard core film was shot using one handycam.

After more than 10 minutes of opening scenes, the video cuts to a room where one man and a woman exchange words in Indonesian with a Javanese accent.

A few minutes after the scene, the video then shows explicit scenes of the two people in bed.

A VCD vendor at the intersection of Jl. KS Tubun in Slipi, West Jakarta, Adi, said the VCD used to be available in many other areas of the capital.

"I used to have it last month. They (illegal VCD distributors in Glodok) sold it about a month ago, but it hasn't been released again," Adi told the Post.

VCD vendors in Glodok mostly sell pirated VCDs, including pornographic ones which are displayed openly at their stands.

The vendors ran amok and vandalized a number of buildings and shops along the busy streets of Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk and adjacent areas on May 13 after police conducted a morning raid on pirated VCDs.

In June, police arrested nine alleged traders of pornographic VCDs in raids over a five-day period at Harco Glodok shopping center.

However, the pornographic VCDs are still sold openly. (jaw)