The following is an extract from an article by the excellent Jakartass, who lives in Indonesia:
http://jakartass.blogspot.com/
We've been worried by the seeming subversive attempts by a minority of fundamentalist Muslim politicians to punish those of us who don't share their brand of misogyny and bigotry, but it would appear that the tide has turned.
The proposed Anti-Pornography Law, if it is ever enacted, will target materials rather than people.
Pressure needs to be maintained, but the government, which is 'independent' of the House of Representatives in terms of decision making, has demonstrated that it is on the people's side.
To my mind, this has been the first time that, without recourse to violence, proposed legislation has been successfully defeated by the people, largely of course, because politicians have been listening to their constituents.
The Balinese have been the most vocal in their opposition and I am amused somewhat by their suggestion that the Balinese are the true Indonesians.
The room fell into an uneasy silence as Satria Naradha, one of the most influential community figures in Bali, made a point to the visiting members of the House of Representative's special committee on the pornography bill.
"Bali will never betray Indonesia, we will never secede. Instead, we shall fight until the end any group that is trying to subvert the nation into a monolithic society based on the teachings of one single religious belief," he stressed.
"If Jakarta and Aceh want to betray the republic (by suppressing religious freedom and multiculturalism) then we will let them go (from the republic). Bali will not go away, we will fight to keep this nation as a nation that respects religious freedom and celebrates multiculturalism," he said.
Jakarta Expat Blogs
Indcoup
Java Jive
Jakarta Kid
Jakarta Eye
Green Stump
http://jakartass.blogspot.com/
Indonesian Blogs
Yosef Ardi
Enda Nasution
A. Fatih Syuhud
Maya in Antibes
Blog Indonesia
Paras Indonesia (formerly Laksamana)
The Fool in Bandung
Indonesia Anonymus
Global Voices - Indonesia
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