March 1, 2016 edition
THE recent uproar over the morality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons was triggered by Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir's comment that people with such sexual orientations were dangerous influences on college campuses and should thus be barred. He later softened his stance.
Such non-hetero sexual orientations, which have existed since the beginning of time, have suddenly captured public attention. Scientists in the country have differing stances. Neurologists consider LGBT orientations to be a natural consequence of genetics that cannot be controlled by willpower. Indonesian psychiatrists, meanwhile, are divided between those who consider LGBT persons as suffering from a mental disorder and those who say the science says otherwise.
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February 23, 2016 edition
THE murder charges against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan have been suspended by the district attorney. The court hearing, which was supposed to be held last Tuesday at Bengkulu District Court, was canceled. The Attorney-General Office (AGO) withdrew the charges a week after documents containing the KPK investigator's case were submitted to the court.
Technically speaking, the case should have been dropped last Thursday, as it had already expired. To paraphrase Paragraph 78 Article 3 and Paragraph 79 of the Criminal Code, a crime with the threat of imprisonment of over three years shall be voided 12 years after it has taken place.
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February 16, 2016 edition
February 9, 2016 edition
THE Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has declared the Gerakan Fajar Nusantara (Gafatar) organization to be one that has 'strayed from the right path'. The Council considers the movement initiated by Ahmad Musadeq to have deviated from Islam because its teachings combine elements of Islam, Christianity and Judaism and interprets the Quran differently.
Gafatar followers also believe a man named Ahmad Musadeq to be the last prophet. It seems the Council's position has influenced the perception of last week's Tempo poll respondents. Of 1,241 respondents, 65 percent agreed that Gafatar should be considered deviant.
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February 2, 2016 edition
NATIONAL Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Sutiyoso has requested expanded powers to arrest individuals suspected of terrorist ties. In previous yearsin particular when Sutiyoso was governor of Jakartasuch authority was on the books, and was frequently invoked in the wake of terrorist attacks.
The authorization to make such arrests can only be implemented if Law No. 15/2003 on terrorism is revised. According to Sutiyoso, terrorist attacks could be better thwarted if the agency were authorized to arrest suspects.
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January 26, 2016 edition
THE public is split on whether to legalize street racing in Jakarta. Last week's Tempo poll indicates that many respondents support the Jakarta government's plan to provide a venue for racing wannabes. However, almost as many respondents oppose the idea, the difference in opinion being 19 respondents from a total of 696.
Opponents feel Jakarta has more to lose from illegal street racing. One concern is over the issue of safety, not only to the racers but also to bystanders, as the city's streets were never built for racing.
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January 19, 2016 edition