Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Several House of Representatives factions have agreed to throw out articles in the pornography bill that criminalize personal conduct deemed indecent and allow for the establishment of a special anti-pornography body.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has voiced the most vocal opposition to the draft law. It and the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Democrat Party – support the demands to scrap all articles that target behavior deemed indecent.

PDI-P legislator Eva K. Sundari said her party suggested that articles on these sanctions be included in a draft revision of the Criminal Code, which is due to be discussed later this year. "The articles about criminal sanctions (on behavior judged obscene) would be regulated in the bill to revise the Criminal Code," she said Tuesday. As a consequence, all articles on the establishment of an anti-pornography body would also be eliminated, Eva added.

The major supporters of the bill are conservative Muslim-based parties, including the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP).

Eva said the legislators wanted the bill to only rule on pornographic materials and industries in a bid to protect children. "We have to make it formal. But we are still concerned about the paradigm of the bill. If the bill is to rule on the distribution of pornographic materials, it should be changed completely," she said.

Separately, deputy chairwoman of the House special team deliberating the bill, Chairunissa, confirmed there was an agreement to scrap such these articles as "we are still in the stage of listening to people's aspirations". "It is still a long way before the bill is passed into law," she said.

A series of meetings by the special team last week only produced minor changes to the bill, including an agreement to change the title of the bill from the Anti-Pornography and Pornoaksi (indecent acts) Bill into either the Bill on Pornography or the Bill on Pornography and Pornoaksi.

The team did not discuss the substance of the bill during the three-day meeting, which was boycotted by PDI-P representatives. Neither did the team compile a list of contentious articles for further debate.

Meanwhile, several Muslim clerics from South Sulawesi met with the special committee deliberating the bill to express their support for the legislation. "Please, don't go back (on the bill). We need it because pornography has intruded on our children's lives," said a cleric, Sirajudin.

Legislator Balkan Kaplale, who chairs the House special committee, has repeatedly said the bill would be passed into law by June. However, it is now unlikely the deadline will be met as the House will enter its recess period next week.

Legislators must produce a list of contentious articles in the bill before they submit it to the government. After this, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to issue a presidential letter to approve the deliberation of the bill and appoint ministers to represent the government in deliberating it with the House.

The bill has drawn controversy because it bans a series of acts including kissing in public and nudity in public art, and also could punish people for how they dress.