Tourists to be hit with Bali bonk ban
Travel companies have revealed how “devastating” a potential new sex ban for unmarried adults could be, as Australians blasted the move and vowed to go elsewhere. VOTE, HAVE YOUR SAY
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Australians have slammed a controversial proposed law that could make having sex in Bali illegal, unless you’re married, as travel companies expect the impact on tourism to be “significant”.
Indonesia is gearing up to pass a new criminal code that has been slammed as Islamic-style sharia law.
It has been blasted by News Corp Australia readers who have vowed to boycott the holiday destination, and speculated it would “kill off the tourism industry”.
“Another reason not to go to Bali or anywhere else in Indonesia for that matter,” another reader suggested.
One chimed in saying: “Don’t go there. Their ‘attitude readjustment’ will be quick.”
The most controversial inclusions would make consensual sex between unmarried adults a crime and also make unmarried couples living together illegal.
Both infractions would attract prison time of six months and one year respectively — and the law would apply to 1.2 million Australians who visit Bali annually.
“Couples who live together without being legally married could be sentenced to six months in prison,” notes Article 419.
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The same six months prison sentence will be meted out for ‘obscene acts in public’.
The changes have prompted the Australian government to update its travel advice to include new information about changes to Indonesia’s Criminal Code.
Website SmartTraveller reassures that the changes would only enter into force two years after new legislation is passed, but warns tourists to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ in Indonesia, including Bali.
TRY NEW ZEALAND INSTEAD?
Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher told News Corp the decision “could have significant impact on travellers choosing to holiday or visit Indonesia.”
He said Australians wouldn’t stop travelling but they would likely go elsewhere which would be a benefit to the likes of New Zealand, Thailand and Japan.
“Holiday meccas, such as Bali, are drawcards for Aussie travellers as they present an affordable, relatively safe and family-friendly travel offering,” he said.
“If a law such as this comes into effect this sadly could be devastating for Indonesian holiday hot spots such as Bali, Lombok and Nusa Tengarra.
“These communities have become reliant upon tourism dollars for their livelihoods so this appears counterintuitive.
“Aussies don’t stop travelling when things like this occur they simply change their destination which could be of benefit to alternative South East Asian favourites such as the islands of Thailand.”
He said it was important to remind travellers that they need to be aware of local laws they need to abide by when they are a guest of another country, and if Aussies are worried about the proposed laws they should consider travelling to New Zealand or a holiday at home instead.
“New Zealand’s North Island has some incredibly beautiful beaches and lush holiday experiences. Check out the gorgeous Bay of Islands or the brilliant island of wine Waiheke Island which is only a mere 45 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.
“Alternatively, Australia has some incredibly travel experiences and travel providers and airlines are constantly offering really great deals to help Aussies discover their own backyard.”
Mr Zeiher said travellers seeking an “Asian experience” should think about Japan as an option.
“Aussies are obsessed Japan and it remains the no. 1 growth destination for Aussies travelling outbound from Australia and it’s only going to become more popular with this year’s staging of the Rugby World and the 2020 Summer Olympics.
CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
According to Human Rights Watch Indonesia Articles 417,419 and 421 violates the right to privacy for consenting adults, which is protected under international law.
The proposal also recognises ‘any living law’ including sharia law.
Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono likened the changes to an expansion of the harsh criminal law of Aceh — the only province in Indonesia using sharia law — but to the national level.
Truly disappointed with Indonesia’s planned new laws. Criminalizing abortion, LGBT, homeless people, sex before marriage WITH CONSENT and unmarried couple who live together.
— d (@saintsdior) September 19, 2019
“The new code is very similar to Aceh laws minus the punishment of lashing,” Mr Harsono said.
As news of the proposed laws surfaced, so did footage of couples being publicly flogged in Aceh province on Thursday.
According to AFP each had been charged with breaking laws against public displays of affection.
Footage showed a masked officer viciously caning men and women who had been caught behaving ‘amorously’. Each had also served several months in prison for breaking the law.
The caning was carried out before dozens of onlookers including visiting tourists.
Human Rights Watch and other NGOs have urged the Indonesian President Joko Widodo to delay passing the laws because it will discriminate against non-Muslims, non Sunni-Muslims, local religious minorities and well as women and LGBT people.
“It is very serious. It’s a disaster and the two articles covering living together and extramarital sex were pushed by the Muslim brotherhood on ideological grounds. This will impact tourism, ex-patriots and foreign investment,” Mr Harsono said.
When the state thinks it has the right to dictate what sexual relationships consenting adults can participate in it’s time to stand up and fight for your rights. Indonesia moves to ban extramarital sex amid rights crackdown - The Telegraph https://t.co/QZsVKR7QGe
— Martin Hardy (@MartMartMcMart) September 19, 2019
Australian entrepreneur Nigel Mason, who owns successful Mason Adventures in Bali, said the Islamification of Indonesia is already under way.
“I have recently heard about young couples going to Lombok and being turned away from hotels unless they can provide a marriage certificate. In Muslim stronghold regions it is impossible for young couples get a hotel room these days. They are expected to carry a wedding certificate like a license,” said Mr Mason, who has lived in Bali for nearly 40 years.
He believes the Balinese will simply ignore the new laws if they come into effect.
The chairman of Bali Tourism Board Mr Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana said he was sure the governor of the island will not institute any requirements to show a marriage license.
“I think the Article needs to be addressed but in my opinion there is no problem,” Mr Adnyana said.
So what’s the solution? Indonesia lacks a proper educational system that teaches about sex education, mostly because we’re a “Muslim-majority†country and talking about sexual intercourse is considered taboo.
— Zullian Hafiz (@zullianhafiz) September 19, 2019
Hard to believe in the 2000's. Seems like some countries still haven't crawled out of the ice age.
— 🇨🇦 Darren W Wood (@Darren_W_Wood) September 19, 2019
Indonesia moving to ban gay and premarital sex https://t.co/Lz0fBNHmuj
I always tell people to wear condoms whenever they had sex, and i want to give some information bout sex ed to young people out there coz we lacking some sex ed here in indonesia. But if i do that, i will ended up in jail huh? pic.twitter.com/Lxo1QRmgjc
— heeyy (@notficca) September 19, 2019
The new code will replace the current criminal code that was established during Dutch colonial rule.
Homelessness, persuading people to become atheist, displaying contraception to minor (under 18), practising black magic, bestiality, insulting the president, spreading communism and limiting access to abortion to women who have been raped or may suffer a medical emergency — are set to become crimes and attract jail time.
The amendments include a change to custodial sentences that will deliver freedom to prisoners aged over 75, as they will no longer be required to serve any further jail time.
Such a reform could see the release of convicted Australian paedophile Richard Fiddes Ellis who was sentenced in 2016 to 15 years’ jail for sexually abusing 11 girls.
The Victorian man, who is serving his time in Bali’s heinous Kerobokan jail, turns 73 next month. The changes could reduce his sentence to just five years.
Melbourne based paedophile hunter Glen Hulley — who runs the Project Karma charity in Indonesia fighting child sexual exploitation is aghast at the proposed new laws.
“All prisoners should serve their entire sentence without reprieve. This is what the community expects of its correctional system and the least justice that victims should be afforded,” Mr Hulley said.
Originally published as Tourists to be hit with Bali bonk ban
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