A 25-year-old Indonesian man was sentenced last week to more than two years in prison for violating the country's anti-pornography statute, the New York Times reported.
Steven Handoko has been in detention since May, after he and 140 men were arrested in Jakarta's now-closed Atlantis Gym as a striptease took place on stage. Photos of the men—naked—were taken by police officers and later posted on social media.
Mass arrests of gay men in Indonesia have become more prominent since late 2016. The most recent roundup occurred as recently as October, in a gay sauna; fifty men were detained. The numbers of those arrested over the last year—now in the hundreds—are unprecedented, according to the New York Times. The crackdown has been attributed to growing influence of right-wing religious groups in the country.
Most of those initially detained have been released without suffering criminal charges, but many describe having been humiliated on social media in a country where being gay is widely misunderstood.
Ade Armando, a professor who contributed to the writing of the anti-pornography law that has been cited in justifying the arrests, said that the raids were an abuse of the statute, particularly those that have taken place in hotels and private residences.
"It is not fair. It is not right what the police are doing there," Armando told the New York Times.
Reader's Comments
Looks like he's set for life :)
because gay couple who are engage in marriage will focus on family, not pornography.
If no Pornography, what is Law contribution for people safety?
If There raid, why gays cover face as if agree with sentence.It was not realistic.
Look People doing terror, are they cover face?
Look at law maker, are they covering face? because everybody having own Law.
If you able to execute then Total heterosexual is crime.
Will Heterosexual cover their face?
Gay must learn to be Realistic. Never cover face by sentence.
As to the story; the idea of boycotting is really about the only thing we can do that will have any effect and I doubt it will amount to much. As an anti-theist, I just see the evil hands of religion at work again.
It's always surprising to me how people don't realise they have their own destinies in their hands yet look to others for guidance.
Anti-gay marriage of religions by any reasons= Anti-Love
that is realistic that must be noted
Since Love against Crime, so who is doing crime actually?
Who cheating you then?
seem that cheating is core of some Religions Concept...that is evident Data for everyone consciousness
That is History you should note and never forget
that should be holly book
And Adam Fall into Sin by Woman (Eva)
Conclusion = Woman is source / mother/Cause Prime for All Sins /Evil
Will women get hard Curse and sent to Hell? is there bravery or impotent, why? Alliance with Evil?
Is there selling Gun / weapon access to protect ourselves? since there are so many races in indonesia want freedom because they have own identity.
who will supply?
will Indonesia become 2nd syria?
Oh...
Well, I won't be visiting the usa for a while either.
No one boycotts NK, don’t be silly. Everyone knows your life is at risk to visit there.
I’m sure the USA won’t miss any cowards who refuse to show their face, and keep recycling the same tired butt pic year after year after year of attacking any and all gay issues.
What happened if every single Island want freedom because of boycotting and sanction effect ? and how they will execute their desire? No Weapon, No Weapon Access, and no weapon Training?
What will Local Leaders and many element/include Religions Elements do?
God Created Human Man and Woman ---That is wrong and egocentric of Evil because there are gays in reality.
But
God Created Human by Man and woman Element -- that is correct, although there will be possibility in future that Human created from Man only
Specially for women that having no legacy of Freedom based on honesty of Hollybooks content and not based on Political Ally / coalition due to higher population of woman to bargain Politics Power
What Chaos entertainment will be?
About boycott, I don't see how a boycott by the foreign gay community will make any difference in Indonesia: they will just laugh it off, and perhaps turn it against the Indonesian gay community as an extra "foreign plot" argument. If you want to do activism, you should really consult local gay groups and ask them what they need from foreigners, if anything. I think there is little for now else than observe these heart-wrenching developments. In the 80es, Indonesia was one of the most gay-friendly countries of the region - even though it was under Suharto. I think the only hope for positive change is if the Supreme Court of India finally decriminalises homosexuality - then it MAY have a ripple effect in the rest of Asia. As long as pro-LGBT stands come only from the West, it is all too easy for local leaders to blame "Western perversion" and to link it to former Western colonialism.
for your education (boy do you need it):
https://www.regent-holidays.co.uk/country/north-korea-holidays/
(btw, face pics have always been available on my profile.)
I feel, however, any stance against Indonesia's marginalization and intolerance to homosexuality will add more awareness and will help in making positive change.
More governments should be condemning the Indonesian government on their hostile and social injustice towards the LGBT community.
If the world stands by and does or says nothing then their silence can be misconstrued as agreeing with these homophobic religious zealots.
It's great to know that you found an interview with him in prison and a newspaper article, and nothing from the Indonesian police or government, as this just backs up my point (which you missed). Priceless posting once again! Are you related to Trump? :)
fancy a covfefe?
But it won't make much difference: Indonesia is too big to be pushed around.
The NYT quotes Mr. Armando as saying: “It is not fair. It is not right what the police are doing there,” “Hotels are private places. The pornography law does not apply.”
This is scary: he didn't dare say "It is illegal". Another extract:
Mr. Handoko said his family hired a lawyer chosen by the police, and he entered a guilty plea that was essentially a carbon copy of the prosecution’s charges. A sister of Mr. Handoko, who asked not to be identified because she feared repercussions at her workplace, said the family had cooperated in hopes of a lenient sentence.
“We were worried that the court would be like quicksand,” she said. “The more you struggle, the quicker you sink.”
This is Indonesia for you. 20 years after the overthrow of Suharto.
Happy New Year 2018.
Many Indonesia LGBT just blind and unable to analyst data although i saw their profile position in Monitoring but Level of it just low.
As you saw, when there was raid. All Gays cover their face. For me, it indicate that all of them Really do not know reality, Law, weak, etc.
I can not teach them more, because I am not activist. I just single fighter and not belong to any organization
All Island must have Weapon supply.
As I hear that some people and Religion groups will sacrifice to die for sovereignty, it is good news and entertainment that we will see them die and see them in Hell.
so, we will see Live real movie of War without need going to cinema.
It will reduce population and reduce Climate Change.
we need Law that woman and man marriage is not always legal but having restriction.
I had asked society, If man get marriage with woman and they do heterosexual, will this always regarded as Holly? and i got answer, that they disagree for some heterosexual behavior.
Even Heterosexual behavior may regard as Sin. Think about that, Can you? do you have innovation?
What Limit category that Heterosexual is legal?
and what do you mean about Indonesia? Island? government? certain community or what?
How about Gays, are they counted as Indonesia? because gays don't get freedom to marry.
How about others citizen that ask for freedom and revolution? are they counted as Indonesia too?
by this point, you know that Authority target/enemy is larger community by different kinds of persecution
Don't fear, for I will defend your right to be persecuted.
http://www.fridae.asia/travel-gay-asia/browse.php?selectedloc=1&countryid=indonesia&stateid=jakarta
there is absolutely no mention of these facts. It is not even said that the Atlantis Gym was closed down!
Obviously, we need more discussion/education in our own LGBT community. I know if just LGBT people refuse to travel or do business there, it will not be enough. It has to be people of money/power and governments that will force change but something has to be done because this will only get worse, not better. These hating fanatics are just emboldened by the lack of denouncing and repercussion from the global community towards these crimes that are happening against the LGBT community in Indonesia.
Overall I do see your point and it has validity.
I would like to wish you and everyone out there a Happy New Year and may enlightenment and enrichment reach more people this next year. May the winds be at your back!
Man should never have gone to the moon. This is what upset them.
Oh, we never landed on the moon?
Money spends too much just for foreigner affair
If Gays do not regarded as citizen that having right to be respected, so what citizen are gays?
Government do not focus on domestic issue such as unemployment rate, health, etc.
What happened if basic goods increase higher?
No protest from Society due to inflation and many thing missing because society seem do not understand, perhaps not enough education that they are deserve to be honored.
Many gays also do not know that Heterosexual is not absolutely correct, but having notes and limitation
Is God homosexual or heterosexual or neutral gender? male or female or what?
Why no spend fund for Gays?
Perhaps citizen do not ask for more? or get hypnotism or Therapy by regime?
Why No Gay and many islands citizen Chanting for Death of regime?
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