Slamet Susanto and Blontak Poer, Yogyakarta, Surakarta – Hundreds of residents in Yogyakarta and Surakarta staged separate rallies Monday in protest against the deliberation of the pornography bill which they said potentially threatened both national unity and freedom of expression.
Protesters in Yogyakarta held the rally at the provincial legislative council on Jl. Malioboro. Also joining the event were noted artists and public figures such as Butet Kertaradjasa, Bakdi Sumanto and Queen GKR Hemas.
After performing and giving speeches, they met with legislators. Both parties then agreed to sign a joint statement rejecting the pornography bill.
"We hope this agreement will inspire other regions to take the same stand against the bill," said Ahmad Sulistiono, the council's deputy speaker.
He said the council rejected the bill because it could threaten the thriving traditions and cultures of the Indonesian people.
The renowned "king of monologue" Butet Kertaradjasa agreed, saying the pornography bill was not the response to effectively curb pornography in the country.
"The bill is not easy to implement. It is subject to multiple interpretations, which could lead to further unanticipated problems across the country," Butet said.
Woman activist Hapsa of the Yogyakarta Women's Alliance said the pornography bill itself harasses women. She said women and children, often victims of sexual harassment, could even be taken to court if the bill were to pass.
The peaceful rally continued at the Yogyakarta state palace Gedung Agung, one kilometer from the legislative council.
Noted transgender dancer Didik Nini Thowok and dozens of other local performers staged traditional dances until late in the afternoon, attracting thousands of passersby.
Separately, in the Central Java town of Surakarta, local artists marched to the municipal legislative council, voicing similar objections.
Symbolizing their rejection of the pornography bill, the demonstrators placed many tombak sewu (a thousand spears) before the legislators' building. Made from coconut leaf ribs, each topped with chili peppers and red onions the natural sculptures symbolize the warding away of evil.
Protest coordinator Murtidjono said the bill had failed to accommodate articles which unambiguously protect the traditional arts as well as rituals and customs. "The bill is against our basic constitution, the 1945 Constitution."