Another ‘Blasphemy’ Victim! Indonesia Embarrassed Again?
After sending a good man to prison for ‘offences’ that would be laughed out of court in most democratic countries…
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Slouching Towards Shariah, Indonesia Jails Ahok!
…Indonesia now faces further embarrassment over its archaic ‘blasphemy’ legislation.
The interestingly named ‘Democratic Party’ has expelled a local official in East Java, because he dared question some tenets of the Muslim creed.
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That’s the same party that ran SBY’s successful campaign for the presidency a few years ago, and since he, during his years in office, not only did nothing to scrap the bizarre ‘blasphemy’ law…
- SBY to ask the world to ban blasphemy | The Jakarta Post
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….but actually proposed that sectarian censorship be made a global diktat, no surprises, I guess, that the ‘Democrats’ are so eager to stomp poor Mr. Rendra Hadikurniawan.
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Detained for saying what he thinks – Rendra taken by cops
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And indeed, any party has the right to expel any member it doesn’t want.
But the next chapter in this sorry saga is horrific, at least to those of us who care about Indonesia’s image overseas.
Sidoarjo Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor), the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, said the statement from Rendra, who was a member of the Democratic Party prior to the allegations, had hurt a lot of Muslims.
Unlikely that anybody was admitted to hospital from watching a video, so we must assume G P Ansor means those pathetic ‘hurt feelings,’ which normal grown-ups handle without running crying to the cops.
Times are a’changing here.
I had always – but now no longer – considered GP Ansor a ‘moderate’ outfit, because they had real cred in standing up to Islamist louts….
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Islamist Bullies – Who’s The Yellow-Bellied Brute In The Yellow Shirt?
But not any more, if this report is accurate – and I have no reason to think it’s inaccurate.
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“We reported him to the police to avoid further public unrest,” said the organization’s deputy chairman, Rachmad Muzayin, on Friday.
East Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Frans Barung Mangera said that the police officers had arrested Rendra in Trawas in Mojokerto.
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Siska, 
Jim in Jakarta, 
JazPen, and 2 others are discussing. 
rossrightangle 
Kezia 12:32 on April 30, 2018 Permalink |
Thank you Ross. I was hoping you may write about this new attack on free speech by a new enemy, the Ansor. I also believed they were on our side for freedom, but I am very disappointed.
President Jokowi made a promise to us for a Mental Revolution but that is impossible when we still have not got free from this olden times blasphemy censorship.
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Intan 13:11 on April 30, 2018 Permalink |
Very happy always when you come back to writing about Indonesia again and I am in agreement about this man Rendra .
Why can he not say what he wants about any religion?
Ansor and the NU let us down. They want oppose extremists but now they do extremists job and tells us we cannot speak about religion as we wish to.
They are same like the intolerant MUI who will never debate but always ban. .
What are they afraid of?
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JazPen 13:40 on April 30, 2018 Permalink |
I was just talking about this and then saw what you have written. Words of wisdom, and I dont always say that about your blog, Ross.
Its pitiful how thin-skinned these ‘religious’ people can be.
What the hell will be next?
Ramadan starts in a couple of weeks.
Will the FPI be out again picking on people who want to eat lunch?
Or is it now so bad that the police will enforce the fast on everyone, whether we are fasting or not?
Are we the last generation of happy expats here?
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Jim in Jakarta 21:19 on April 30, 2018 Permalink |
So there is some talk of mental health issues?
That sounds like the good old USSR to me, if you criticize the ruling ideology, you are unbalanced!
Or is it that this detainee is getting ready to use it as a defense strategy against this unbelievable charge?
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Siska 12:30 on May 1, 2018 Permalink |
It is easy for you expats.
You may leave Indonesia anytime you want to leave.
Have a pity on us.
We must live here in our country eventhough it is not like our country anymore.
Once we were freed from the Dutch. Who will free us from those who think like Arabs?
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