What do you think of polygamy today?

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)