February 18, 2010
Indonesia looks to block offensive Internet pages
By Presi Mandari (AFP)
A web cafe in Jakarta where the
Indonesian government is considering
proposals to block websites
JAKARTA — Indonesia is considering proposals to block Internet sites that are
deemed to violate "public decency" and privacy, provoking a barrage of
criticism from bloggers and web users.
Fresh from a round of film and book bans, the government of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono is now turning its sights on the Internet in what critics say
is a throwback to general Suharto's "New Order" dictatorship.
"Our main objective is very simple. We want to minimise the negative effects of
the Internet," communication and information technology ministry spokesman
Gatot Dewabrata told AFP, without explaining what effects these were.
"There are myriad violations by Internet users in Indonesia. We don't have any
intention to move backward... but we don't want people to think that the
government ignores matters like pornography on the Internet."
Yudhoyono backed a controversial anti-pornography law adopted by parliament in
2008 which criminalises an array of traditions unique to Indonesia's
multicultural society, such as certain regional dances and costumes.
That law, which was passed despite widespread protests, was backed by
conservative Muslim groups including the powerful Prosperous Justice Party
(PKS), which traces its origins back to Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
The PKS now controls the communications ministry in the rainbow coalition
government that was sworn in late last year after voters in the mainly Muslim
country re-elected Yudhoyono to a second five-year term.
Almost 8,000 people have joined a Facebook group opposed to the planned
Internet restrictions. Under certain provisions of the draft regulations,
Facebook users or Facebook itself could be blocked.
The new rules would make it illegal to distribute or provide access to
pornography or gambling services, anything that spreads religious hatred or
threats, and any news deemed "misleading."
Web content which "humiliates the physical condition or abilities... of other
parties" also could be blocked, along with anything which violates privacy by,
for example, disclosing someone's educational background.
Complaints would be handled by a 30-member team comprised of officials and
independent experts.
The new regulations, which could be in force within months, will take the form
of a decree from Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring, the PKS leader,
based on existing communications laws.
Facebook user Don Ivano wrote on the social networking site: "The draft is an
inflexible, authoritarian legal product which imprisons democratic principles.
It clearly means we will go back to the New Order regime".
Another Facebook user, Titiw Akmar, commented: "That's the impact of having a
minister from the PKS".
Dewabrata dismissed concerns that freedoms of speech deemed fundamental to
Indonesia's post-Suharto democratic reforms were being rolled back.
"It's not a censorship body. We'll only respond to public complaints and
they'll go through a lengthy process before they're acted on," he said.
Indonesia's censorship board recently banned Australian movie "Balibo," which
depicts alleged war crimes by Indonesian forces in East Timor, as well as
several books dealing with sensitive historical and political subjects.
Its blasphemy law has been used by Muslim groups to silence critics and
intimidate followers of minority faiths, while defamation remains a criminal
offence instead of a civil one as it is in most democratic countries.
Yudhoyono recently hit back at protesters who stuck his picture on a water
buffalo and led it through central Jakarta, saying he did not appreciate being
told he was "big, slow and stupid like a buffalo".
"Do you think this is an expression of freedom?" he asked reporters.
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