Shannon Power – A police raid of a party in Indonesia last week that resulted in the detention of 14 allegedly gay men, eight of which were arrested on anti-pornography laws threatens LGBTI rights in the country.

The men were targeted in gay men in Surabaya with police ordering all 14 men to take HIV tests.

Acting on tip-offs from neighbors the police raided two hotel rooms at midnight on Sunday.

According to local media reports and activists, police detained the group while confiscating condoms, mobile phones, and a flash drive that allegedly contained pornographic videos.

The eight men who were detained on Law on Pornography charges could face up to 15 years in jail.

'Indonesian police are again violating the basic rights of LGBT people by invading their privacy,' said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

'The Surabaya raid subjected these gay men to traumatic humiliation, puts two at risk of long prison terms, and threatens the privacy rights of all Indonesians.'

Privacy breached

The HRW argued mandatory HIV testing was contrary to the ethical and human rights principles of privacy, autonomy, and informed consent.

Under the World Health Organization's 2015 Guidelines on HIV Testing and Counseling, 'Mandatory, compulsory or coercive HIV testing is never appropriate'.

HRW said privacy rights were a fundamental protection that underlie everyone's physical autonomy and identity. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, the independent body of experts that interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is party, has stated: 'it is undisputed that adult consensual sexual activity in private is covered by the concept of 'privacy'.'

'So long as the government permits police raids on private gatherings under a discriminatory law, it will fail to curb anti-LGBT harassment and intimidation,' Kine said.

'[Indonesian] President Jokowi should make good on his commitments to protect privacy rights and put an end to state-sanctioned discrimination.'

Source: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/indonesian-gay-porn-arrests-breach-privacy/