Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) – In the face of a “sexy-gate” which for the past month has stirred up the world of politics, the media, public opinion, and religious parties, the Indonesian government led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has announced support for a degree of censure to block Internet pornography. Web sites, blogs, mobile phones, social networks in Indonesia, used mainly by young people, are full of sex-linked video clips in which the leading role is played by a well known pop singer Irham Nazril.
At the beginning of this year, 2010, the government proposed a bill to regulate the contents of the Internet but, because of pressure from public opinion, the idea was discarded. Now, following in the wake of a “sex-tape”, the minister of Information and Technology Tifatul Sembiring, who is a member of the Islamic conservative party, Prosperous Justice Party, has reaffirmed the urgency to control the contents of the internet, and charged special squads to implement an anti-pornography fire-wall for more than 2,000 Internet Cafès all over the country.
In Indonesia an anti-pornography law approved in 2008. In 2010 the law was declared compatible with Indonesian law by the country's Constitutional Court (see Fides 26/3/2010). However moderate Muslims as well as Christians, Hindus and groups for freedom and human rights– especially in eastern Indonesia – have expressed dissent with the law. “Certainly not because we are in favour of pornography ”, local Catholic sources told Fides , “but because we fear this law, – which accepts a controversial and generic definition of “pornography” – could be easily manipulated: extremist Muslims could use it to penalise non Muslim citizens and thus seek to impose strictly traditional customs, including Shariah law.
Some scholars say “despite the government's good intentions, freedom of information and individual rights must be protected as a common good ”, adding that while it is important for young people to be protected, the new means of communication play a key role in furthering democracy in the country.
Young people, new technology, rapid social and cultural changes in Indonesian society, Fides source concludes, represent a challenge and a field of mission of growing importance. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/6/2010)
