President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has left another ticking time-bomb for his successor when he signed a government regulation on reproductive health that requires women getting pregnant as a result of rape, or those with life-threatening medical conditions, to apply for a legal abortion within 40 days of their last period.

While it's very clear in the law that doctors are allowed to perform abortions on women in these instances, the invention of a 40-day limitation is arbitrary and almost annuls the whole good intention of the law. Such an arbitrary regulation, albeit taking five years to issue, quickly became controversial, and invited heavy criticism.

We agree with the argument that 40 days will give rape victims virtually no time to make a clear and informed decision about whether they want to keep or abort the fetus. Furthermore, most women in villages and even many in urban areas only find out that they are pregnant two or three months later.

Even Islamic clerics are divided on abortion. Many clerics allow it – if the mother wants to, and with a strong reason – within four months of conception as they believe that by the end of the fourth month God blows soul into the baby. By then, it is considered a living human being, and aborting it is considered murder.

In the Netherlands, for instance, a mother can have an abortion within six months of conception. While we can't compare Indonesia to one of world's most liberal countries, by setting a six-month limit, the Netherlands has thoroughly considered the health and legal aspects.

Fortunately, those who reject the regulation can still have it reviewed in the Supreme Court. But the fact is that regulations in Indonesia often confuse the public, rather than benefit all.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-new-abortion-rule-another-time-bomb/