What do you think of polygamy today?
JAKARTA (JP): Public attitudes toward polygamy, which is permitted by Islam and is also found in several traditional societies in the archipelago, have fluctuated in modern Indonesia along with the examples set by the country's leaders.
The country's first president, Sukarno, was married to no less than seven women at one time or another, thereby giving tacit endorsement to the practice.
But in the Soeharto era, from the late 1960s until 1998, polygamy was looked down upon, and government officials and members of the Indonesia Military were even banned from polygamous relationships.
Today, the pendulum has swung back again. Vice President Hamzah Haz, from the moderate Islamic United Development Party, has two wives and 12 children.
The Jakarta Post spoke to people from across the country about their views on polgyamy.
Wayan P. Windia, 50, an expert on Balinese traditional laws and customs:
There is no article in traditional laws that urges or regulates the practice of polygamy. Yet, the laws also don't specifically state that polygamy is prohibited.
I personally disagree with polygamous practices, but under special circumstances polygamy is the only solution available ... such as when a couple cannot conceive because of a biological problem of the woman's ... .
A marriage that fails to beget a child poses a major threat to the family line's continuance, therefore the man is allowed, even urged in many cases, to take another wife.
On the other hand, Balinese people would look in dismay at a man who practices polygamy only for the sake of satisfying his lust and desire.
Anak Agung Sagung Mas Ruscitadewi, 33, noted female Balinese poet:
I completely disagree with both polygamy and polyandry (the practice of a woman being married to more than one man at the same time). I believe that most of the time these two things only lead to bitterness, jealousy, dissatisfaction and divorce.
Even if a couple cannot have a child they still can adopt one. Adoption is stated and regulated in our traditional laws and customs, and the adopted child is given the same rights and responsibilities as a biological child.
Ayip Syafruddin, 45, chairman of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Communication Forum (FK-Aswaja), married and residing in Surakarta, Central Java.
I support polygamy. The original law of marriage in the religion (Islam) is polygamy. An exception applies when a man is not "capable" of having more than one wife, or he can't afford to marry more than one woman. Then he can only have one wife.
There are many reasons for polygamy. The reason that drives a reformist/purist Muslim to do it is the will to do the sunnah (Islamic law based on the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad), as Prophet Muhammad gave as an example. Mohammad committed polygamy, not only in his devotion to Allah, but also to help some women and widows as a noble practice.
The idea of legalizing polygamy in Indonesia is good. It means that Indonesia absorbs the aspirations of Muslims as the majority. Even our Vice President himself has given a good example of polygamous practice in Indonesia by marrying more than one wife, and it hasn't caused any problems ... .
I oppose polyandry. There's no such religious regulation about such practices. There will be many social problems when a woman marries more than one husband. It will be hard for the woman. Besides, based on the population census produced by the UN, the female population is statistically higher than the male.
Butet Kertarejasa, 40, theater performer, residing in Yogyakarta:
I am anti polygamy. It shows the domination of men against women. If we're democrats who fight for equality, (from our view) the practice of polygamy indicates ignorance of the essence of democracy.
Some could say that polygamy is legal, with an argument that there is an equal distribution of economic resources. I think the argument is nonsensical. Expressions of love and mercy cannot be measured tangibly.
What has driven men to practice polygamy? First, they could not control their primitive instincts, including their sexual desire. Second, there was a spirit of submission of a woman to a man, the spirit of a conqueror ... .
Ahmad Thohari, 53, cultural observer and noted novelist:
I am for polygamy but with certain conditions, such as health reasons or infertility, which prevent the wife from producing offspring or having sexual relations with her husband.
It's better for the man to resort to polygamy so the husband does not engage in illicit sexual affairs.
In my opinion, we need to issue a special decree about polygamy so that any man can remarry in accordance with clear principles. The regulation must include some limitations to avoid violations. But it must be supported by women who are against adultery.
Nurlela Hidayat, 29, a lecturer at the School of Social and Political Science at Jenderal Soedirman University and member of the Biyung Emban foundation for street children in Purwokerto, Central Java:
I support polygamy with restrictions, because religion permits the practice and I think there is also a social reality that leads a man to marry more than one woman. We should review it case by case before making a judgment.
I don't agree if polygamy is based on lust, but it should contain a social mission. It's also important to issue a special decree so that the man would not treat the woman in a fickle way ... .(zen/23/45)