Andra Wisnu, Denpasar – Opposition parties took jabs at the ruling ones for allowing last year's passage of the pornography law, ensuring the issue will become a central theme in Bali's legislative election.
During a political debate among legislative candidates held at Udayana University on Friday, candidates from the opposition parties put themselves forward as the main attraction as they vocally criticized – subtly and not so subtly – the ruling parties for allowing the porn law to pass.
The porn law itself remains a sensitive issue among Balinese and the provincial government who continue to voice their objections to the law.
In October last year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed the highly controversial porn bill into law amid protests by Bali, other provinces and scores of civil society groups.
President Yudhoyono belongs to the Democratic Party and Vice President Jusuf Kalla belongs to Golkar, both members of the ruling coalition.
I Gusti Ngurah Arya, head of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian National Party of Marhaenism (PNI-M), questioned these two parties' decision to back the controversial bill.
"The adage now is that people are voting for the legislative candidate, not their party. Well, I think that's a mistake because these candidates still have to serve their parties, including those that allowed the pornography law to pass," Arya said to a resounding cheer from some in the audience, which was visibly divided up according to party loyalties.
Nyoman Dhamantra from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also criticized the ruling parties for passing the porn law, saying his party would work to overturn it whether or not it becomes one of the ruling parties.
Gede Pasek Suardika, head of the council of experts for the Bali chapter of the Democratic Party, reiterated the government's success in bringing down fuel prices and buying back shares of some state-owned companies.
He steered clear of the porn law issue, urging the public to trust his party for another term while touting the country's current conditions.
Despite his eftforts, Udayana University scholars agreed the ruling party walked away as losers from the debate.
Dr. I Gede Mudana from the University's culture department said the porn law issue was a tough one in Bali and members of the ruling parties simply had little room to maneuver. "It's quite clear the opposition parties have the upper hand, at least in Bali."