Bali Stands United

The Balinese people’s struggle against the Anti Pornography Bill reached a riotous climax on Wednesday when, during a public hearing held at the Bali Legislative Council’s building in Renon, both the Council’s chairman IBP Wesnawa (right) and the Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha (left) officially stated their rejection to the controversial bill.

Hundreds of anti bill activists, including the Komponen Rakyat Bali (KRB)’s Ngurah Harta, Cok Sawitri, Ketut Wiana, Luh Anggreni, Abubakar, Aridus and Highpriest Ida Pedanda Sebali Tianyar Arimbawa, attended the hearing.

“The Council rejects the bill and we demands that the House of Representatives terminate the deliberation process of the bill,” Wesnawa stated.

The Council’s three factions; the majority Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the Golkar party backed the rejection unanimously whereas the minority Kertha Mandala faction supported it by the majority.

Later on, Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha stated similar rejection, citing, among others, that the bill “might place the Balinese cultural heritage and sacred religious objects in danger of legal prosecution.” He also stressed that the bill would adversely affect various aspects of Balinese’s people life.

Apparently, the militant organization Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI)’s Somasi (legal grievance), which accused the Bali Governor as a separatist leader, had hardened the usually timid Dewa Made Beratha.

“I have been Somasi-ed,” he said with a faint smile,” I am a defender of the Republic and they called me a separatist.”

Their official letters of rejection would soon be sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President and several related ministerial offices.

The rejection made Bali the first province in Indonesia to formally file a rejection against the bill.

The rejection was also unanimously supported by all of the island’s regents and regency legislative councils.

The anti bill activists greeted the Council’s and Governor’s decisions with a prolonged, thunderous applause.

“We have completed one important stage in our struggle. Yet, a long, winding and difficult road is still ahead. Be prepared and be united,” KRB’s Cok Sawitri said.

source: jiwamerdeka.blogspot.com

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 16th, 2006 at 1:14 pm and is filed under Miscellaneous. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Tags: Anti Pornography Bill, Legislation.