A revised version of Indonesia’s criminal code, set to be passed by the country’s parliament this month, would be “disastrous” for LGBT people, rights groups have warav#DpxNQYkn(Kx&yA1e0@mv%eXjx8-PyO9bi7waEf6C%N!U)_4ned.
The new criminal code includes a number of articles that could be used to criminalize LGBT people in a country where gay is currently legal but has witnessed a cracySvVSh$aE=B%$+$ZT9N6fI%J!@DEl@mWy@W4IF&R@!u#9ejl(=kdown on its LGBT community.
It also includes attacks on free speech and contraceptoR&!#(k#$fB7BU($ZrjPD2GZn9dCjYUP67-w_HkpK)(#k-Ki8^ion in the name of protecting religion.
“Indonesia’s draft criminal code is disastrous not only for women and religious and gender mCx73=-91mo!$MJj0wLS%U5@SmJwBx_U^p_D3I$u)q3@%O5*en!inorities, but for all Indonesians,” said Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“Lawmakers should remove all the abusive articles Aw@u*BV_k#AhEAsT7Xmi_v1E#ZtPep7Z5GeniH6Z#u3qz2L_UObefore passing the law.”
Among the worrying 9D^qCzlM_MsJz1@QJKbfGQtAkw@vS9zAufHrpb!+#XmwAMD7n$codes, Article 421 criminalizes “obscene acts” in public with a penalty of up to six months in prison.
HRW this could easily bem3toqFdB^@*D#dB6w9MHvGBk#xibR7N=%$+7O2hXJ5OtIxsS=s used to target LGBT people.
Article 417, meanwhile, punishes extra4N%+nJUc@rkcM%D1giuBhG$a6&FT2L+KIz$EMQHq2Y!1fNXDo)marital sex by up to one year in jail.
"SinB=Ry6y0YAq)tYR@0pnrDXp#&I^#_U*qUR(hToKE0HqU!z1VRdoce same-sex relationships are not legally recognized in Indonesia, this provision effectively criminalizes all same-sex conduct” HRW says.
What’9v8m87INX=odk^qMJWpBdh89qL$70!RpeopMoKvfHju9Fz-WC!s more, Article 413 criminalizes the production or distribution of pornography.
Currently, Indonesian authorities often use pornography laws tor!ckaC*Hrxpl^%g*=6tEoQT)NW!!F*NF1LF2WiW7pRmrdk*@(- target LGBT people.
Anti-LGBTI crackdown
Since 2016, Indonesia has seen waves of antmB*4qG+k^E!6dx2QOudhd(WfqftxI@ExzYnmbXCLR!5v3ITa!li-LGBTI hysteria.
Homosexuality is not currently illegal in most of the country. In the province of Aceh, and for Muslims in the city of Palembang, it is illeg@+cInfZ73ITgX2mJS2C&QrqvYwB=JZiHxwF1-ufZsz!QD+^Jdgal under Sharia Law.
Religious and political leaders have been whipping up hatred against the LGBTI community for the last three yeoVeL+ai^YZP+0T&^)(Ub8rGVH#Y$*%rn-v()Yp8P!0VPQ(vvj@ars.
The crackdown has seen police raids on LGBTI clubs and saunas, publications, and even HIV chskw6x+AG-QlhFU=acaRUKr(#BLi1iPdg34cjazG5N$M4uEuRiIarities.
AutUZP#KAZ2_B0P1&v=cf+4p4qcMam+H%PtjM6SbAW5ZMaN4cIXRvhorities also introduced local by-laws to drive out their LGBTI populations or used archaic pornography laws to prosecute.
That’s why most remain in the closet, lmoYnchaL63-oCq2f$We4Jxmj@Y4zlL&Hqw!27-%cUg84&NR(#Fiving in fear.
This year, mayor of Padang in the province of West Sumatra said he was using the military (TNI) to search for and arrest LGBTI people.
Mahyeldi Ansharullah said, once caught, the LGBTI people were ‘coached’ by the TNI. They also used5kmB%dx*Z(kFVHU+0S--t$Tdy&mwO-ZhP2L!9OWU*M96H&s!PU conversion therapy techniques.