Dialectic: Erwin Arnada and FPI; Who’s On The Truth??

Erwin Arnada and FPI; Who’s On The Truth??

Muhammad Abdul Mannan

On October 9, Erwin Arnada which known as Ex-Chief Editor of Indonesia’s Playboy Magazine, surrendered into domestic prosecution of South Jakarta. He was verdict as a suspect of anti-pornography and porn-action (APP) rules violation, which proposed in Indonesia since 2002 under Megawati Soekarnoputri’s Government.  We can guess any tendencies upon this proposal, but indeed it influenced by moral degradation in Indonesian society, moreover for the young generation. In here, Erwin also became the ‘victim’.

Erwin’s case being published widely by some international media, which it media-judged as a repression into journalist freedom (Playboy still acclaimed as a text-media which uploaded by journalist, although picture content is dominating the whole part of magazine). On the other hand, FPI or Forum-Pembela-Islam as the plaintiff also being judged by Associated Press as an extremely-hard-organization, responsibly for many abuses upon adult-public facilities.

Analyzing process on the whole case should be saw from 2 different elements: the violation of journalist rights and the actual position of FPI. On the first point, there is a complaint from Erwin’s side on why this case should be brought into criminal article, not simply into journalist rule. If we would like to talk in the law-sphere, journalist rules is merely arranging the standard-operating-procedure of journalist on their work, so it will be punished on technical foul. In Indonesia’s context, playboy discourse had been complained since it not published well from many parties, and it backed-up by APP rules which included into criminal sphere. On the other hand, although Indonesia’s Playboy claimed had been articulated into Indonesian behavior (also claimed that many other magazines are more ‘porn’ regarding to Playboy Indonesia’s Version), the stigma of Playboy as a popular-adultery-magazine-for-men is enough. The adultery-magazine should containing the attractive contents for adult, and it will be sold as-simple-as sweets in the shop. For an addition, if the major purpose of APP rules is saving the moral values of youth, this product should be banned in the first hand.

Secondly, about FPI’s judgment. As one of the biggest democratic country (at least in the 3^rd, based on total people number after USA and India), people voice rights are uphold as the essence of democracy. FPI being one of active-fully-pressure group, move on the name of Islam as the majority. Representing point here is debatable, I do agree with that (Islam is majority, but almost will not supporting violence as the option). However, if we agree that social movement likes FPI is the product of democratic system, and the minority voices will be uphold as well as majority, FPI status cannot be sued, as long this organization is coordinated-well with national security staffs.

So how long Erwin will stays in the jail?

*Note: sorry for miss-terms-used in this article, I am not an expert in this sphere. Only try on sharing more about the sensitive issue in this lovely country