| By Detik.com November 3, 2008 Nov 6, 2008, 03:12 | Email this article Printer friendly page |
Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta -- Leaders from the Communion of Christian Churches (PGGK) covering five regencies and municipalities in West Papua province went to the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday November 3 to declare their opposition to the recently enacted law on pornography. The leaders from the 40 Church denominations were received by DPR speaker Agung Laksono.
During the hour or so meeting, they expressed their opposition
to the law, which was ratified on October 30, saying that it
could destroy the diversity that has been built in Indonesia up
until now.
"We hereby declare our opposition to Republic of Indonesia Law
2008 on Pornography," said the head of the group Filep Mayor in
reading out a statement at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta.
In addition to this, they although threatened to quit the
Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) if their
demands are not met. "We will separate ourselves from the
Indonesian state if this law is put into effect nationally",
added Mayor.
Another head of the delegation, Andrikus Mofu, said that the
threat to leave the NKRI is a means of political bargaining
against the policies implemented by the Indonesian government in
relation to the ratification of the pornography law. "This is
our political bargaining [chip] against the government in
relation to the enactment of the pornography law", explained
Mofu.
Mofu added that if their demands are not met, they will take
their complaints to the international community. "If our
[demands] are not met, we will declare our wishes to the
international community, to quit the Republic of Indonesia",
continued Mofu.
West Papua Regional House of Representatives speaker Jimmy
Demiongus Ijie also took the opportunity to explain the
historical role of the Church in the return of West Papua to
Indonesia. As a result, he said, the voice of the Church is an
important part of the aspirations of the entire Papuan people.
"The Church played an important role in the return of West Irian
to the lap of the motherland. If the Church decides to leave,
who could stop it", asserted Ijie. (lrn/rdf)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
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Christians in Papua protest against anti-porn bill
JAYAPURA, Indonesia, Nov 4 (Reuters) - About 1,000 Christians in
the Indonesian province of Papua protested on Tuesday against an
anti-pornography bill passed by parliament last week, saying it
conflicted with their traditional culture.
The protesters said the bill could threaten national unity in
Indonesia, which is predominantly Muslim but has Christian and
Hindu majorities in certain districts, particularly on some of
the eastern islands.
"We refuse to implement all bills and drafts of bills which have
sharia (Islamic law) nuances because it could trigger national
disintegration," priest Tonny Invadi told a crowd from
Indonesia's Christians Communication Forum (FKKI).
The anti-porn bill was pushed by a small group of Islamist
parties. Minority groups, especially Christians and Hindus, said
the bill was a threat to artistic, religious, and cultural
freedom. But despite big protests in Jakarta, Bali and Papua,
the bill was eventually passed by parliament on Thursday.
Critics say that the exceptions to the bill for sexually
explicit cultural and artistic material are too vague, and that
by allowing civil organisations to play a role in preventing
pornography, this could open the door for vigilante groups to
take the law into their own hands.
Some protesters on Tuesday also called for a special autonomy
package for the province, where independence activists have
waged a campaign for nearly 40 years to break away from
Indonesia. (Reporting by Oka Barta Daud; Writing by Telly
Nathalia; Editing by Ed Davies and Paul Tait)
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