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AsiaIndonesia won’t meddle in tourists’ sex lives
Indonesian authorities sought to reassure tourists on Monday, after concerns sparked by a new penal code that criminalizes sex outside of marriage.
Bali will remain “comfortable and safe for visitors”, assured the authorities.
AFP
“I want to address foreign tourists saying, ‘Come to Indonesia, you won’t be chased by this article.’ On Monday, the Indonesian Deputy Minister of Justice and Human Rights wanted to reassure travelers scalded by a text criminalizing sex outside marriage.
According to the new Indonesian Penal Code, sexual relations outside marriage and cohabitation can only be denounced by close family members of the persons concerned, spouse, parent or child, said Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej. The minister recalled that adultery was already punishable in the previous version of the code.
Bali rest Bali
The parliament of the Southeast Asian country on Tuesday approved a text punishing a maximum of one year in prison sex outside marriage and six months’ imprisonment for cohabitation, signaling a conservative shift in the great Muslim country. Business representatives have sounded the alarm over this reform, which could harm the tourism sector in Indonesia.
In Bali, the main tourist destination of the archipelago, Governor Wayan Koster also tried to allay fears about the new Penal Code, assuring that the authorities would not check the marital status of tourists. The Hindu-majority island of Bali will not change its policy towards foreigners after the code is put in place, he said. “Bali remains Bali”, an island “comfortable and safe for visitors”.
“There will be no verification of marital status upon arrival at tourist accommodation (…) nor inspection by officials or community leaders,” he said in a statement. The new Penal Code has yet to be signed by President Joko Widodo and is expected to come into force in three years, after a transition period.
(AFP)