| > | News clippings | > | | | | | | | | |
News clippings 2008 |
|
In pictures: Indonesia's waria BBC News: In Pictures It is lunchtime in one of Yogyakarta's bustling street markets. And Vera and her friends are starting work. They wriggle their way through the stalls, rattling home-made instruments and singing songs. The essentials for turning a healthy profit: skimpy clothes, lots of lipstick and a big dollop of attitude. Vera is the tallest among them. She says she knew she was female long before she started wearing make-up, despite being – biologically – a man. Fourteen police on trial over murder case The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Fri, 12/26/2008 11:21 AM Fourteen police personnel stood trial before a code of ethics assembly in Bojonegoro on Wednesday over their alleged bungle that resulted in the wrongful conviction of three villagers for a murder case last September. Request for review of porn law soon to be filed The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Tue, 12/23/2008 10:59 AM The Bali People's Component (KRB) organization has finished its draft judicial review of the recently signed anti-pornography law, the first legal challenge to the controversial measure. Born to Be a Woman of God The Jakarta Globe, December 22, 2008 The school is called Senin-Kamis, or Monday-Thursday, as the group previously gathered twice a week. Now there are only Sunday sessions as few of the group’s 15 members — who include non-Muslims and homosexuals — can afford to travel to Gedong Tengen more than once a week. A typical session starts at 5 p.m. and does not end until after dawn prayers. Indonesian sultan criticises anti-porn law Antara, 12/19/08 09:09 Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The hereditary sultan of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta declared his opposition Thursday to a tough new anti-pornography law which has stirred fiery debate ahead of elections next year. Guest Speaker's Forum: Govt fails to make progress on protecting human rights The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 12/15/2008 10:36 AM Activists celebrated World Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 this year while the government skipped an official celebration on the day. The Jakarta Post's Adianto P. Simamora spoke with the Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Ifdal Kasim, about progress in human rights protection in Indonesia. Gays, bisexuals, transgenders still discriminated against: Rights body The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 11/12/2008 10:43 AM The government is failing to respect and protect those who identify as homosexual, bisexual or transgender, despite their equal rights as citizens, says the official human rights body. Demand rises for sex with under-aged The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 12/13/2008 11:21 AM The number of child sex workers in Indonesia has more than doubled in the past decade, with the majority operating around resorts amid the country's booming tourism industry, an NGO has warned. Questions Made Possible by the Porn Law The Jakarta Globe, December 11, 2008 These are exciting times for philosophers teaching at Indonesian universities, thanks to the controversial antipornography law. I have discussed this law at three universities in five classes with approximately 150 students in lectures on religion, culture, tradition, law and, of course, pornography. Serious, hilarious and confused debates followed. Pluralist activist awarded Yap Thiam Hien Award The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 12/10/2008 8:13 PM Prominent pluralism campaigner Siti Musdah Mulia, 50, was awarded Wednesday the Yap Thiam Hien Award 2008 human rights award for her “courage and obstinacy” in pushing for pluralism, women’s rights in Islam, civil liberties and equal constitutional rights for all citizens. Porn law casts a shadow over human rights The Jakarta Post , Jakarta, Denpasar | Wed, 12/10/2008 7:49 AM The newly enacted anti-pornography law threatens to further stain Indonesia’s already sullied human rights record, rights groups warn, as Bali prepares to spearhead national opposition to the law. SBY signs porn law, protesters despair The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 12/09/2008 7:33 AM Defying persistent protests by a number of provinces and scores of civil society groups, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed the anti-pornography bill, ratifying a law that criminalizes any sex-related materials deemed to violate public morality. ‘Deviants’ Take On Porn Law The Jakarta Globe, December 6, 2008 It was almost two months after the assault, so the bruises were no longer there to be examined,” said Hartoyo, who had been working with a nongovernmental organization in Aceh for five months before becoming a victim of abuse. Siti Musdah Mulia Honored With Rights Award The Jakarta Globe, December 5, 2008 Siti Musdah Mulia was named on Thursday as the 2008 winner of Indonesia’s most prestigious humanitarian honor, the Yap Thiam Hien human rights award, due to her consistent efforts in defending pluralism, women and the values of Islam as “friendly, open to dialogue and inclusive.” Jombang court releases controversial murder suspect The Jakarta Post , Jombang | Tue, 11/25/2008 2:35 PM Jombang District Court in East Java released murder suspect Maman Sugianto (alias Sugik) after a public outcry claiming police had the wrong suspect in the highly controversial case, but the court says it will continue with the trial. Style Bites: Win and loose fashion of pornography law The Jakarta Post, Sun, 11/23/2008 10:31 AM | Arts & Design Who hasn't made a big fuss over Indonesia's new pornography law? Enough of the media's many cons and scant pros, I'm actually quite curious to know how it's going to change our multicultural society. Elizabeth Pisani: A raging dinosaur The Jakarta Post , Ubud | Sun, 11/23/2008 10:34 AM In her blog, thewisdomofwhores.com, author and epidemiologist Elizabeth Pisani mourned the passage of the pornography bill late last month. Prosecutors asked to free Jombang residents The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Mon, 11/17/2008 10:50 AM East Java Provincial Police chief Insp. Gen. Herman Surjadi Sumawiredja has called on the prosecutor's office to release two Jombang residents who were wrongly convicted in a murder case. W. Papua, Bali unite against porn bill The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Mon, 11/17/2008 10:51 AM The head of the West Papua Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) repeated the province's intention to secede from Indonesia if the anti-pornography bill passed into law, during a rally in front of the Bali governor office in Denpasar, on Saturday. Rocky Gerung on the politicization of Islam The Jakarta Post, November 16, 2008 "Indonesia should ban political parties that are based on primordialism, be they ethnic or religious-based," said Rocky Gerung, philosophy lecturer at the University of Indonesia. He continued: "We should leave behind languages that are no longer compatible (with modern politics)." Hundreds protest in Bali against Indonesian anti-porn law AFP, Sat Nov 15, 2:00 pm ET Hundreds protest in Bali against Indonesian anti-porn law AFP – Indonesians attend a protest against the new pornography bill in Denpasar. Hundreds of people rallied. Bali will not enforce porn law, public officials say The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Sat, 11/01/2008 10:41 AM In a move of defiance against the controversial pornography bill, Bali's governor and speaker of the provincial legislative council declared Friday the province would not be able to enforce the newly passed law. Unease reigns after porn bill passed The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 11/01/2008 7:52 AM For Santi, a 29-year-old staffer at a Jakarta law firm, the fun and carefree days of hanging out at a mall in a shoulder-exposing tank top may well be over. Porn bill passed despite protests The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/31/2008 8:00 AM The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the contentious anti-pornography bill, defying months of protest from artists, pluralists and human rights groups. No Holds Barred The Jakarta Post, October 28, 2008 Elizabeth Pisani’s formidable reputation as a straight-talking journalist and AIDS expert precedes her. Bhimanto Suwastoyo profiles the author of a new book on AIDS in Asia. Rallies meet as pornography bill nears end The Jakarta Post | Thu, 10/23/2008 7:52 PM With the deliberation of the pornography bill nearing completion, two groups -- one favoring the bill and the other against -- rallied outside the House of Representatives on Thursday, fighting for lawmakers' ears. One more held in Jombang controversial murder case The Jakarta Post, National News - October 22, 2008 The East Java Police has arrested Joni Krisnanto for his alleged involvement in the murder of Fauzin, in the now infamous Jombang case. Indonesia ratifies ASEAN Charter The Jakarta Post, October 22, 2008 Jakarta, The House of Representatives has formally adopted the ASEAN Charter into the country's law, making Indonesia the last ASEAN member state to ratify the charter. 'Evidence of coercion in murder case' The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Fri, 10/17/2008 10:24 AM A fact-finding team from the National Commission on Human Rights found preliminary indications of human rights abuses in the trial and conviction of three people accused of murder, saying they were seeking further information from prosecutors and police who had investigated the case. Porn bill committee OK's bikinis at resorts The Jakarta Post | Fri, 10/17/2008 10:26 AM Jakarta - The House of Representatives' special committee debating the controversial pornography bill will allow tourists to wear bikinis at tourist resorts in a bid to ensure tourism is not negatively affected by the controversial legislation. Who will the pornography bill protect? The Jakarta Post | Mon, 10/13/2008 11:35 AM | Opinion What is the practical danger of pornography? Is the infamous saying, "pornography is the theory, rape is the practice", really true? Have no illusions: Recall the statistics of family rapes in Amish tribes, homosexual pedophilia in monasteries and domestic violence towards females in Middle Eastern societies. Jombang district court reopens controversial murder case The Jakarta Post | Wed, 10/08/2008 10:29 AM | East Java Jombang District Court reopened a controversial murder case on Monday, with lawyers for two convicts presenting new evidence and requesting the immediate release of their clients from prison. A place for transvestites to connect with God The Jakarta Post , Yogyakarta | Fri, 09/26/2008 11:04 AM | Lifestyle Access to prayer, transcendence and feeling closer to God are the religious rights of every human being. But what about people with same-sex orientation, like lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT)? House moves to soften porn bill amid divide The Jakarta Post, September 25, 2008 Responding to mounting public criticism, the House of Representatives has begun revising several contentious articles of the pornography bill, which is scheduled to be passed into law in October. Think twice before passing the pornography bill The Jakarta Post | Mon, 09/22/2008 12:41 PM | Opinion Just as observers were commending the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) for distancing itself from the exclusive Islamism it is often associated with, the disappointing news that the party's faction in parliament is pushing for the controversial pornography bill to be passed, emerges (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 12, 2008). Critics of PKS such as journalist Sadanand Dhume warn that in the long term, the PKS is the most serious Islamist threat to Indonesia's historic pluralism. We hope Dhume is wrong, but the actions of PKS parliamentarians sadly suggest that he may be right. House postpones passage of porn bill The Jakarta Post , Jakarta, Denpasar | Mon, 09/15/2008 10:13 AM The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and other hard-line Islamic groups may not be able to present the pornography bill as a "Ramadan gift" as the House of Representatives has delayed passing it amid increasing public resistance. Resistance mounts against porn bill The Jakarta Post , Jakarta, Denpasar | Mon, 09/15/2008 10:13 AM Civil society groups and several regions are voicing strong opposition to the controversial pornography bill as legislators rush through deliberations during Ramadan. Indonesian gay rights groups protest media bias in serial murder case Fridae.com, 5 September 2008 Gay and human rights groups in Indonesia have hit out at the media for linking homosexuality with violent anti-social behaviour ever since the case of ‘gay’ serial murderer Verry Idam Henyansyah hogged the headlines for over a month. King Oey of gay advocacy group Arus Pelangi reports from the ground. Bridging the gay-straight divide in pluralistic Indonesia The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 08/23/2008 9:57 AM In a country where mainstream religions condemn homosexuality as ungodly, many have taken up a position at either extreme of the spectrum but few have actually attempted to bridge the gap. Indonesia's sexuality still in a straitjacket The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 08/10/2008 10:28 AM | Headlines Former homophobe Anton (not his real name) says he has transformed into a more tolerant person, acknowledging that gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transvestites are humans who have the same rights as anyone else. Q! Film Festival: Where cinematic fabulousness rules The Jakarta Post | Sun, 08/10/2008 10:29 AM | Entertainment Movie buffs are in for a treat as the annual Q! Film Festival is back for the seventh time to paint the town a bright shade of pink. Paradox in heterosexist Indonesia The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 08/10/2008 A man squirmed and sighed after reading the news about the serial murder case in Jakarta and Jombang, East Java, which was uncovered last month. U.S. grants asylum in Indonesian transgender case The Jakarta Post, Sun, 08/10/2008 10:26 AM | Lifestyle The United States granted,for the first time, an asylum claim to an Indonesian transsexual last month, an activist said. Victoria Rue: A woman's place in world religions The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 08/04/2008 Self described Catholic Priest Victoria Rue hopes her trip to Indonesia will plant a seed that eventually sees the ordination of this country's first female priest. Ryan of Jombang Indonesia Matters, August 1st, 2008 The news item overwhelmingly dominating television screens currently is the story of the murderer 30 year old Very/Verry/Verri Idham Henyansyah, usually called Ryan. In recent days the remains of 10 of Ryan’s murder victims have been dug up in and immediately outside Ryan’s family home in Dusun Maijo kampung, Jatiwates village, Tembelang, Jombang, East Java, and one in Jakarta. Police say there are likely still more victims to be found. Editorial: A gay life The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 07/31/2008 10:25 AM | Opinion It's a great story that makes the world go 'round -- apart from love and money. A story that feeds the insatiable human need for information on the condition of others. Bodies found in yard of mutilation suspect The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 07/22/2008 10:14 AM Police have found four bodies buried in the backyard of a house belonging to Verry Idham Henryansyah, who was arrested last week for a mutilation murder. Lesbians find ways to make peace with their sexuality The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 07/18/2004 12:04 PM | Life "I used to deny to myself that a lesbian. It took me 15 years before I finally was able to make peace with myself and say 'yes, I am a lesbian and there's nothing wrong with it'," she said. Indonesia: LGBT Network Celebrates IDAHO IGLHRC, July 1, 2008 IDAHO, the international day against homophobia, is fast becoming more important in the global campaign for the end of discrimination against LGBT persons. In Indonesia, more and more groups in many cities are now taking up that day [17 May] to combat homophobia. This year there was a genuine effort to coordinate and encourage other cities to take part. Asian gay, transgender groups fight for their rights Jakarta Post, Mon, 9 June 2008, 10:29 AM Bali - Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups in Asia have agreed to develop an international network to advocate protection of their rights in their respective countries and at the regional level. Bags of friendship from people like us Jakarta Post, 1 June 2008 The troop, calling themselves PLU-Satu Hati (People Like Us-One Heart), arrived at Sundak Beach, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta by bus, car and motorcycle, bringing bags of sembako (daily necessities such as cooking oil, sugar, and milk), secondhand clothing, and a banner that reads International Day Against Homophobia 2008. Their mission? Homophobia in Yogyakarta, an unfinished story The Jakarta Post, 1 June 2008 At least three acts of homophobia took place in one nightclub in Yogyakarta city in the last two years. Religious leaders say homosexuality 'not from God' The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Tue, 01 April 2008 12:53 AM A controversial discussion late last week on homosexuality spilled over Monday as mainstream religious organizations claimed homosexuality was a psychological disorder, not a natural behavior given by God. Islam 'recognizes homosexuality' The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 28 March 2008 1:38 AM Homosexuals and homosexuality are natural and created by God, thus permissible within Islam, a discussion concluded here Thursday. Nino Susanto Fridae, March 25, 2008 Fridae speaks to 26-year-old Nino Susanto, an aspiring environmental engineer and festival director of the Q! Film Festival in Jogjakarta, Indonesia about the event and youth activism. Rights body joins forces to oppose new bylaw The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, 05 February 2008 Jakarta - The National Commission on Human Rights has agreed to oppose the implementation of the city's public order bylaw this month. Deputy chairman of the commission M. Ridha Saleh said his organization would send a letter to the President opposing the bylaw. Chiangmai's first gay pride march Fridae, January 30, 2008 Meet some of the gay activists and community leaders from across Asia including Nepal, Mongolia, China and India, who were in Chiangmai last weekend for the third ILGA-Asia conference, at the pride parade. Photos and text by Sylvia Tan. ILGA-Asia conference elects first regional board Fridae, January 28, 2008 Alongside 14 panel presentations and workshops held Jan 24 to 27 in Chiangmai, 26 Asia-based member organisations of the International Lesbian and Gay Association elects its first regional board. Fridae editor Sylvia Tan reports from Chiangmai. Activists demand equal rights for transvestites seeking work Jakarta Post, January 11, 2008 Groups fighting for the rights of transvestites have demanded the government be more supportive of the minority group, especially as they try to secure employment in the formal sector. Transvestites fight an uphill battle The Jakarta Post, Friday, January 11, 2008 Ienes Angela remembered back to a long time ago when she sat in a church and felt uncomfortable. It was an unpleasant experience. She felt as though she didn't belong because people were staring at her. |
| > | News clippings | > | | | | | | | | |