Can we identify the forces of progress and regression in the country?
I think the “Youth Condom Campaign” is a suitable test-case. Take a quote which is positively or negatively referring to this issue, check who said it and you will know who is your ally and who your opponent in this public debate.
So, here we go.
Which organization claims Indonesia’s commercial condom market was about 120 million sales a year, half to one-third of what is should be for a nation of 240 million people?
It’s non profit organization DKT Indonesia. So I guess it will agree it’s a blessing the Indonesian government is going to provide 60 million “made in Indonesia” condoms for free to categories of people prone to sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
Who commented by saying: even children and adolescents are likely to already have unprotected sex. We also can’t deny the fact that the age of marriage is getting lower. So, younger generations should have wider access to sexual and reproductive health services deemed effective to protect them against both infections and unintended pregnancy?
It was the Minister of Health, Nafsiah Mboy. A voice of reason. Well, I mean it does make sense to me.
Who made this statement the law said that those who are not married should not be given contraception. But our analysis shows that such regulation is dangerous and ignores reality?
Again, it was the Minister of Health. On top of being sensible she proves to have political guts by saying this.
Who is the source of these data: 62.7 percent of teenagers ages 14 to 18 have had sex?
That news was launched by the Child Protection Commission (KPAI). Useful information to build a policy on in my perception.
Who warned condoms are a halal product, but sales should be limited to prevent misuse by people who are not supposed to use it?
The surprising answer is: also the Child Protection Commission. But what kind of misusing the KPAI has in mind? Bags to keep water in? Balloons? I would like to argue that protecting adolescents from contraceptives is putting the logic of the real world upside down. Which to me seems not to be in the interest of those minors.
Who is the lady who objects to the government’s plan by saying that instead of telling young teenagers to use condoms it is better to educate them of the risks associated with having sex at a young age?
Well, it is an oppositional parliamentarian, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka. At first glance it may look like she has point. Actually sex education is important. Yet an essential part of that education should be getting updated about contraceptives. Telling about the morality, technicalities, the blessings and pitfalls or psychology of sex is very useful, yet it doesn’t prevent conception or infection- condoms do.
Who is quoted saying distributing condoms to teenagers between 15 and 24 years old is inappropriate. Teenagers don’t understand at all about sex or life. Introducing condoms to them could be mistakenly interpreted as an introduction to sex as well. They might be addicted to it [sex] once they know about condoms. Things will turn disastrous if they forget to use condoms or runs out of them”?
The Commission IX chairperson of the House of Representatives, Ribka Tjiptaning said so. So she seemingly thinks you get addicted to condoms like you do to cigarettes or heroine ? Though flavoured condoms are available, this is a peculiar opinion really 
. No madam, sex is not an addiction, it’s just a all-out natural human urge. Moreover she seems to be an example of mixing up cause and effect. She misses the point completely if you ask me. Obviously she is a lawmaker who lives in a world totally and alarmingly different from that of teenagers whose intelligence she dramatically underestimates.
Who came up with the idea to keep the disease (HIV/AIDS) away with preventive action by improving the nation’s morality ( in stead of the use of condoms)?
No one else than a former minister of women’s empowerment (!), Tuti Alawiyah. Rather disappointing a leader who used to promote the interests of women seems to prefer a fairy tale solution to a practical one.
And last but not least a very easy riddle. Who commented this campaign is wrong, it is an adultery campaign for teenagers. The right and blessed solution to prevent AIDS and unwanted pregnancies is to stop adultery, stop prostitution, stop free sex, stop sodomy, stop homosexuality, lesbianism and all sex deviations?
Who else but the inevitable mr Rizieq Shihab.
So his advice is to stop life in order to stop evil. Great. Brilliant.
FPI’s chief obviously is out of reach for reasonable discussion. By the way why don’t you stop yourself, mr Rizeiq? And why the hell is nobody stopping you?
Apparently the war between progress and regression is still waging. If the forces of progress step up their assertiveness a little bit more there still is hope reason will have it in the end.
I’ve met enough Indonesians who said that sex is addictive, yet according to surveys Indonesians have much less sex than their European counterparts. So, it is not that addictive, is it?
on the serious note, the DPR needs to compare how USA and the Netherlands approach on sex education and their result. One uses abstinent only approach resulting in high abortion and high STD, while the other giving sexual education early on (even too early and too open sometimes) resulting in much less abortion and even lesser STD.
This morning one of my aunts was complaining about free sex and the condom, and honestly I was fed up and said ‘paying or getting paid for sex is prostitution’ before I tuned out. She was confused, then my cousin asked , ‘what’s the meaning of free sex? It means sex for gratis’.
@ triesti: I’m afraid that some are very well-informed on the matter and some stick to the principle “don’t bother me with facts, I’ve made up my mind”. But issues like this campaign might be an incentive for public debate. And who knows exchange of arguments between rational people on both sides will result in something beautiful, that is common sense.
(By the way I remember a similar scene with my uncle and aunt – though self evidently not literally using the same lines – and my cousin finishing off the conversation with a comparable punchline. Different generations tend to have different views. Fortunately
)
But condom balloons are AWESOME! We used to throws condom-water-balloons around in high school before the teachers finally realized what it was exactly that was littering our school yard. I believe it was one of the few instances my whole year group really banded together and kept our mouths shut on who started the condom war. Hum.
(Completely nrelated, I apologize.)
“Teenagers don’t understand at all about sex or life.” – She obviously has no contact whatsoever with the average teenager. Information can be accessed so easily these days. Sure teenagers have different views than their older generation on ‘sex’, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have opinions. Sex ed is important, easy access to contraceptive methods are important. Le sigh.
And the less said about Rizieq, the better -_-”
@ mousey: O, the jubilant day when a history book for the first time mentions the “second condom war” [1999 - 2001 (???)]. The first one was in ’55. I was there. Btw: you forgot to tell who won. The girls? The boys? Or did you attend a girls only school?
This morning I met a few teenagers in a shop and realized they were beyond ( my) comprehension. Yet I second the remaining part of your comment. They definitely are different from my ( and their) generation as they ought to be and in many ways are smarter and in every way more up to date. Including sex.
However I think mr Rizieq is as much a smart populist as he is a bastard. Therefore he should not be included in nor excluded from any debate. He should be fought against.
My take on this is, Indonesians largely believe that sex is not for an open discourse. It is not just about the sex act but everything associated with it, including the sex organs (I mean the genitalia and breasts)and underwear, contraceptive stuff, even sanitary pads. For example, they have numerous names for penis, starting from the most innocent “nonot” to the harsher “kontol”.
And again for Indonesian case, condom has been associated with sex before marriage, which is one of the biggest five sins in Islamic jurisprudence. One individual commits adultery, other 40 households near by the adultery site will be affected. All of them will sin! So, you can imagine how a person the calibre of mr. rizieq would react to such initiative of Youth Condom Campaign.
People can ignore facts and figures you bring forth on the usefulness of condom to prevent STDs or unwanted pregnancy. They are not real problems. They are only imagined by the condom campaign cohorts. If you get affected by STD, it’s because you are not faithful with your legal partner (the bell rings…..) If you are pregnant you must want it, unless you are pregnant because you have sex not with your legal partner (do I hear the bell ring?)
So, don’t sex until you are eligible to (the only legal channel is through marriage. Sex is for the adults not for kids.
Condom? Even my husband needs to use his low register when he ask for a condom in a drug store. And the store keeper needs to wrap that little package with numerous layers of used newspapers to hide its content. (The hubby buys condom becauce I love to toy with it. Is it a kind of condom misuse?)
So, as long as Indonesian’s attitute toward sex does not change. The war on STDs or unwanted pregnancy with condom (or other stuff) as its munition will never work.
@ delvi: You’re probably right: sex related subjects are taboo to (too) many people. They are surrounded indeed by absurd assumptions and misleading information. So there is work, a lot of work to be done
. Urgently.
Perhaps sex is not for young and halfwit teenagers kids. But whether adults like it or not a significant percentage of that age group has and will have sexual experiences. The gap between the conservative gospel and sexual reality is wide and widening. The moral gospel is not a deterrent. Nor a contraceptive. Whatever is necessary to gradually change that “Indonesian attitude” should be done.
I think every witted person won’t deny that sex education is as essential as character education, a buzz word in Indonesian education scene at this moment. I believe those who retaliate against (early) sex education of any manner must mean no harm to anyone. It’s just that the culture they belong to and the the belief they hold on make them react in such a I-can’t-believe-it way. You can’t just banish a belief that has been so ingrained in people’s brain in a blink of eye. That’s why frontal campaign like the Youth Condom Campaign, which also means good, will face massive opposition.
We know Indonesians love subtleties like the penis example I’ve mentioned before, why don’t those campaign initiators go subtle as well. For example, they make sex education a hidden curriculum at school. Of course, the have to penetrate the principles’ mind first that sex education is indeed as important as character education. Or, they smuggle subtle sex education into the character education syllabus.
The plain fact, Delvi, Islamic jurisprudence notwithstanding is that so long as there is consent between adults (defined by Indonesian law as those who are at least 17 years of age), who I chose to have sex with is none of your business. Leave me and others out of YOUR interpretation of YOUR religion.
@ delvi: I don’t want to condemn people who hold conservative views on sex. Yet I think it should be unacceptable if they back destructive sex policies and thwart constructive ones. Therefore there should be a reasonable public debate. In that context taboos are not a help and should be criticized.Facilitating the use of condoms to me seems a pretty soft pedalled approach
Two centuries of Biblical prudishness ( or rather a prudish interpretation of Biblical texts) were ingrained in my parent’s society. A pretty hypocrite, “Victorian style” society I might add. But starting with Freud and the miracle of the pill a century later the web-cobs in the heads of most people have been blown away. Half a century on and Indonesia connected to the world at large, I don’t understand why successful sex education shouldn’t result in a all out sensible approach.
@ mauricio: I guess believers, conservative believers included, have the right to promote and lobby for their moral convictions. On top of that I’m convinced the overwhelming majority of believers -Christians and Muslims alike – apply their official morals primarily and perhaps exclusively to the behaviour of their fellow believers ( not unlike we (?)/I do as a non-believer to perceived fellow heathens
. I think they will not bother too much about our sins and fornications – non believers go to hell any how 
.
Allow me to enter Delvi’s posts as Exhibit A in the case that I have argued on this blog for the pervasive conservatism of Indonesian society, even among the putatively “educated” and “modern” echelons.
@ Mauricio: Touché
.
However she describes one reality. The diversity in Indonesia provides others. And I should add that from old posts on her blog (http://delviwahyuni.wordpress.com/) and from this comment I know Delvi herself holds enlightened views on sex and gender relations. She here advocates a prudent approach ( with which I can agree) and doesn’t think this campaign to counter venereal diseases (I’m very very old fashioned) and HIV/AIDS is prudent enough ( with which I obviously disagree).
I come to think that my English is getting worser and worser that what I wanted to say reported another meaning to the reader. That’s the problem with language. You don’t have to be a linguist to realize that what you mean can mean something entirely different for others.
That’s why I do think a cultural based approach might work for this kind of condom campaign. In other words, you need to speak to your target society with their own language and provide them context that’s compatible with their culture.
Let me tell you one example. Way back in the 90s there was an initiative to build modern toilets in remote villages in West Sumatera. To make it plain, in those villages, houses had no toilets. so, if people wanted to answer the call of the nature, they just did it along the sea lines or river banks or hidden spots in the bush. Of course, you don’t have to be a european or a western man to regard this habit as not healthy. That’s why a group of university students started an initiative to provide modern toilets (a squatting toilet not the sitting ones) for these villagers.
Every witted man must thank those students for their great deeds. But do you think those villagers were happy with their new toilets? Do you think they use the toilets faithfully in honor of the students’ effort or for their own health and cleanliness sake?
Those toilets were left untouched!
Why? Were those muslim villagers a group of cleanliness hater tribe? Muhammad himself had declared that cleanliness is an inseparable part of the faith. How come those Muslim defy what the Prophet has ordained. So Why?
The problem is those toilets were built facing the direction of Ka’bah (to the west). Muslims face Ka’bah to pray gentlement not to shit. Nah, well meant initiative just went ashtray!
For this condom case and venereal desease case, probably we can learn from the toilet case. It has been ingrained to the people’s mind that HIV or STDs or unwanted pregnancies (in this context, a girl is pregnant out of wedlock) are the fruits of illicits sexual acts, which Islam the religion of the majority Indonesia condemn. Those afflicted with those deasease are sinners big time. And no parents with reason and self-respect want their kids to be sinners. That’s why until this morning, on tv, Ms. Mboi, the health minister was busy confirming that there was no such action of condom give away initiated by her ministry.
Another example to support my case of considering culture for this condom campaign is the effort made by the Suharto regime to limit Indonesian population. every witted person knows the danger of overpopulation. But, itt was met by fury and persistent opposition by the people. There is this belief that more kids bring properity. This belief might be rooted in the fact that Indonesian, especially those in rural areas are agrarian people. They need more people in the field and lots or kids can provide lots of aids free of charge. So, how come the government made such stupid policy that will dwindle their prosperity? To make things more complicated, preachers also condemned that policy. They reasoned that children are blessing from God, how come the government wanted to prevent them form getting blessed.
After many years, finally the regime realized that they need to use cultural approach to make the program meet its intended result. in my village, the government funded the randai(traditional drama group)group and infused the play with messages on how important family planning was. They also began to approached preachers and won their heart (don’t ask me how)and slowly we heard preachers preached on family planning. That was the time when my mom decided that six children are enough.
I still believe that condom youth campaign is a good initiative and can be prudent. However, you cannot overlook the cultural obstacles barricading this action. Probably they can approach religious preachers and present their case, hopefully those preachers are convinced and help them to campaign. (A thing that is very unlikely considering the scale of sin adulterers might get). Somebody should also consider the phenomenon that Indonesia is getting conservarives. You want proofs? Muslim female TV personalities starts wearing hijab; various religious based by laws like a gay friendly law in my city, Bukittinggi which sounds “umarried man and woman cannot be seen in public holding hands or embracing each others.
But who knows? The world spins and people changes. A single try worth more than a thousands lamentations.
@ delvi: You make a strong case
.
Reading your comment I remembered a forgotten Dutch sociologist who once said “new ideas will only be implemented under an accepted label”. To reach your goal you have to take into account the frame(s) of reference of the group you’re targeting. In that sense I agree with you. And also I accept that seemingly the momentum is with the culturally and religiously conservatives.
Yet because, in my opinion, the gap between conservative taboos and common sense solutions is widening, a heavy responsibility is on the shoulders of the informed vanguard. It was of crucial importance to Dutch catholic sexual emancipation that a popular Bishop in the really sixties told his Christian flock on TV that condoms and the pill were a private matter only. He was in the vanguard in the early sixties ( and a dissident in the Catholic hierarchy of the Church) and his stand helped to bring about a breakthrough – big time
. By the way: Christian, especially Roman Catholics’ official sexual morals are (were) pretty similar to Muslim ones.
I mean reasonable initiatives to protect people from the horror of unwanted pregnancies or horror of AIDS, should not be blocked by myths, prejudice, stereotypes, ignorance and taboos. In my opinion it’s up to that vanguard to start and win the public debate of gender equality, sexual emancipation and family planning. Your warning to be prudent, to know beforehand what is and what isn’t ‘an accepted label’, is essential though.
I’m not sure that majority of public schools give sex ed. let alone islamic schools. Catholic schools give sex ed. in cooperation with the church for middle and high schools, so there’re these messages that the church is supporting abstinent but these are the option of contraception available when you are married. It was no where near as much what Dutch elementary school learn on their sex ed. After one student died while doing illegal abortion (or was it almost died? I forgot the details) they showed us the ultrasound video of an abortion being done, how the baby reacts inside in all the gory details.
Seeing that video and the reason behind the showing, made me a supporter of a pro-choice and pro-condom action. Had they use anti-conception properly (they didnt teach us how to use them properly, probably because they handle it in marriage class before a wedding), they wont get pregnant and had the law allows her to have legal abortion we dont have to kill two people, one life is bad enough. Of course, the conservative would say.. had they not have sex these wont happened. I command their moral for not doing sex out of wedlock, but a lot of people dont. Dont tell these people that it’s their punishment that they have STD or getting pregnant. It doesnt solve the problem.
We need to do proper sex education in Indonesia. I think what my catholic school did was rather extreme, but perhaps that’ll work for some.
What I dont understand is the need to put in the law that it is illegal to sell condom to underage but we dont do anything to protect kids from exposure to sex on tv. they are showing ‘adult content’ on tv during the time kids are up. kids will want to find out, and if they are not being guided properly, that’s went the problem starts.
“The problem is those toilets were built facing the direction of Ka’bah (to the west). Muslims face Ka’bah to pray gentlement not to shit. Nah, well meant initiative just went ashtray!”
Allow me to enter this “quaint” (for the desire to remain civil and diplomatic) vignette as Exhibit A in the case that I have argued on this blog about how i.) religion often stands in the way of material and physical well-being, and ii.) religion has been stripped of its inner wisdom and essence, leaving behind a flaccid orthodoxy and morality based on ritual alone.
Thanks, Delvi. Keep’em coming.
@ Mauricio: Imagine introducing Dutch style liberal policies on drugs, merciful death (euthanasia) and sex ( which have been proven to be a blessing generally speaking) in the Mid-West of the US or Italy. Perhaps possible on the East and West Coast, but tough, next to impossible even I guess in between. But worthwhile the try which should be patient, smart and prudent.
It’s easy to you and me to dismiss religious taboos and rituals but they happen to be at the core of fundamental and existential beliefs of many people.Yet I bet large parts of the Indonesian population, given the right approach, are open to sensible sex policies. Yet it’s self evident it’s different in Aceh or any region where hardcore conservative Islam is prevailing.
Nevertheless sex policy’s success is a public duty in my opinion. And within reach. It was possible to overcome huge conservative obstacles of the Bible Belt, religious based political centre parties and the once almighty Roman Catholic hierarchy in the Netherlands in the sixties. I’m hopeful a similar change can be accomplished in Indonesia if it’s done patiently, smartly and prudently. Which is what Delvi quite rightly advocates: don’t waste money and energy on a campaign with serious design flaws.
@ triesti: I would be a hypocrite if I said I totally agree with you, because fortunately I was a happy sinner before marriage
. But apart from that I share everything you wrote here 
.
[By the way you're the living proof prolific and ardent Mauricio probably is way too gloomy
]
@colson.. I am not judging people about their sex life. what I was trying to say was what most Indonesians are saying. they are always pro abstinent.. eventho I’ve learned there are plenty of affairs going on after they got married/divorced. It’s hypocrisy that I still have to digest. So, for me if one can hold off until they got married, good for them. If not, be safe about it.
I do think showing that abortion video was too much. but perhaps such shock works on some people.. I know at least a couple of girls who watched that video were keeping their babies. At least by having a good sex ed. I wont hear someone said that ‘the gender of the baby is determined by the position while making it.’ or ‘oh, I didnt know you have to take it on time’
@ triesti: I see. I agree. We all should act the way we feel is right.
Still I’m puzzled. The abstinence morals made sense in the past. Thanks to the great religions they protected women. They were the moral translation of consideration and social solidarity. And have become fossilized into social dogmas decorated with a lot of logical and theological acrobatics since – to the benefit of many. But hey, the ratio behind them is over. They make no longer sense at all. People are ( can be if they choose) safe from unwanted pregnancies and STD. Consenting adults, and definitely consenting adults who love each other, can enjoy the pleasures of sex without any of the risk of 1,5 or 2 thousand years ago.
So…To me abstinence is alright of course. But in the same sense as it is alright that members of Anthroposophy allow themselves to eat only biodynamically grown vegetables. It’s a choice, not a moral or social obligation.
Interesting article on the JakPost today from Rio Helmi, an Indonesian photographer based in Bali. I agree fully with Helmi. I would just add that Bali is in many respects Indonesia writ-small. So much religion, so much “culture”…
http://www.thejakartapost.com/bali-daily/2012-08-09/i-love-bali-handling-double-edged-sword-adat.html
@ Mauricio; If I lived on Bali I might agree as well. But I’m not. And so I’m pondering on the devastating impact a materialistic money economy and selfish Western individualism might have had on traditional sense of community and adat. And no government, not even the concept of an accountable government, taking over public services yet.
Perhaps it’s the transitional stage characterized by the worst of two sets of values – fossilized traditions and hedonism.