Indonesian Minister's Remarks Continue to Draw Ire Online
November 30, 2009
Related articles
Twitter Gives Us a Glimpse of Rupert Murdoch Unbound 9:59am Jan 31, 2012
Clout on the Catwalk Can Come With Tweeting 9:50am Jan 6, 2012
US Company Sues Ex-Worker Over Twitter Followers 10:26am Dec 30, 2011
Kenya Army, Somali Militia Swap Twitter Insults 11:30am Dec 13, 2011
Salman Rushdie Runs Afoul of Facebook Name Policy 10:09am Nov 15, 2011
Post a comment
Please login to post comment
Comments
Be the first to write your opinion!
Anger over Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring’s statements blaming natural disasters on immorality continued from disaster survivors and on the Internet over the weekend.
“Television broadcasts that destroy morals are plentiful in this country and therefore disasters will continue to occur,” Antara state news agency quoted Tifatul as saying during an Idul Adha sermon on Friday.
News of what the former leader of the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said provoked sharp criticism on Saturday from disaster victims.
Kikie Marzuki, an Acehnese Muslim who lost 10 family members in the tsunami disaster of 2004, said victims were not to blame. “I prefer to believe that natural disasters occur because of the destructive force of nature that cannot be avoided by humans,” he said.
Tifatul’s remarks also brought swift rebukes from some of his followers on Twitter. One tweeter identified as Ari Margiono said Tifatul’s words inferred the residents of Aceh and Padang were more decadent than others. Fellow tweeter aRdho said the comments were the direct result of political bargaining that resulted in Tifatul’s appointment.
The Indonesian Council of Ulema, however, supported his sermon. “Based on the religious view, a disaster could be seen as punishment for people’s sins, and could also act as a reminder of our mistakes,” council member Ma’ruf Amin said.
Tifatul said on Friday that his office also aimed to complete the government’s draft regulation against pornography within the next six months, after which all pornographic Web sites would be blocked. He also vowed to block access to Web sites deemed blasphemous or offensive to ethnic groups and religions.
JG, AP
- Another Indonesian Pilot Busted in Airline Drug Test
- Is Atheism Illegal in Indonesia?
- ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ Unveils Itself to Jakarta Audience
- 12 Detainees Pull Off Brazen Jakarta Jail Break
- Indonesia Property Demand to Rise With Economy
- Bali’s Rising Violent Crime Rate Could Threaten Tourism Industry
- Sumitomo Bets on Indonesia’s Growing Need for Electricity
- Indonesian Police Arrest Czech Tourist in Papua
- Jakarta 'Healer' Touches Clients’ Penises to ‘Remove Evil Spirits’
- Apple’s iPhone Hot But Android Handsets on Fire
-
8:05am | House Slights Supreme Court Or...
Unfortunately, this is exactly as expected. Twisting the truth, bending over for the fascist and securing their financial future is -
7:41am | Bakries, Brisbane Roar to Open...
If the Bakrie Group was an Indonesian Chinese owned group, one would imagine that there would be the usual rants from posters as to why such group -
7:34am | Rise of the Brotherhood Won’t ...
ps... the Brotherhood have already started silencing dissenters in Egypt (even before they take power!) The most notable being writer Abdel Moneim, -
7:25am | Rise of the Brotherhood Won’t ...
since much of Egypts Arab Spring was about the desperate need for economic change the author is simply outlining what many other observers are sayi -
5:42am | Bakries, Brisbane Roar to Open...
It is just matter of time where west really fall to east. As more companies of west need to deal with their east counterpart. If you think citibank -
1:48am | 7 Motorcycle Girls Arrested fo...
Another girl gang likes to bullying because of simple matter,, epic fail ! -
1:10am | House Slights Supreme Court Or...
This makes me so angry. Gumawan fauzi and suryadharma are not incompetent retards - they are radicals who have attaind high office. -
12:48am | Is Atheism Illegal in Indonesi...
"But atheists who want to proclaim their beliefs outside their own circles might want to think carefully before zealously taking on established re
