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Surabaya to refuse hosting Asian gay, lesbian conference
NU Online · Kamis, 25 Maret 2010 | 07:08 WIB
Surabaya, NU Online
Surabaya city authorities are most likely to disallow the holding of an Asian gay, lesbian and bisexual communities conference at the Hotel Mercure here on March 26-28, a spokesman said.
Surabaya Vice Mayor Arif Afandi said here Wednesday the city government had received telephone calls from many local community and religious figures including MUI, NU and Muhammadiyah clerics urging the authorities not to allow the planned conference in Surabaya.r />
"In short, they conveyed their objections to Surabaya hosting a conference or seminar of gays, lesbians and bisexuals," he was quoted Antara news agency as saying.
They argued that Surabaya was a religion-oriented city with a predominantly Muslim population that still cherished the oriental values of life.
Asked whether the refusal would not contradict democratic norms, Arif said democracy had to be practiced by taking account of the socio-cultural values of the local community.
"I think, there are places in the country where such a conference can be held but not in Surabaya. We uphold democracy but also have to respect the people`s socio cultural sensibilities as well as consider the security and order aspects," he said.
About the actual official permit for the conference, he said, it was the National Police headquarters that had the authority to issue it. But the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta would do so only if there was a recommendation from the East Java police and the Surabaya city police.
"I heard the Surabaya city police will not give a favorable recommendation because of public security and order considerations," he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the East Java chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Abdus Shomad Buchori, said the council resolutely ruled out the possibility of holding the gay, lesbian and bisexual conference in Surabaya.
"Such a conference will create enormous problems because homosexualism and lesbianism are sexual abnormalities that can destroy the people`s morals. So we should not try to legitimize them by all sorts of means," he said.
According to sources close to the conference`s organizers, the meeting is to be attended by 200 delegates from 20 Asian countries. Conference discussions would be held in open as well as closed-door sessions. (dar)
Surabaya city authorities are most likely to disallow the holding of an Asian gay, lesbian and bisexual communities conference at the Hotel Mercure here on March 26-28, a spokesman said.
Surabaya Vice Mayor Arif Afandi said here Wednesday the city government had received telephone calls from many local community and religious figures including MUI, NU and Muhammadiyah clerics urging the authorities not to allow the planned conference in Surabaya.
"In short, they conveyed their objections to Surabaya hosting a conference or seminar of gays, lesbians and bisexuals," he was quoted Antara news agency as saying.
They argued that Surabaya was a religion-oriented city with a predominantly Muslim population that still cherished the oriental values of life.
Asked whether the refusal would not contradict democratic norms, Arif said democracy had to be practiced by taking account of the socio-cultural values of the local community.
"I think, there are places in the country where such a conference can be held but not in Surabaya. We uphold democracy but also have to respect the people`s socio cultural sensibilities as well as consider the security and order aspects," he said.
About the actual official permit for the conference, he said, it was the National Police headquarters that had the authority to issue it. But the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta would do so only if there was a recommendation from the East Java police and the Surabaya city police.
"I heard the Surabaya city police will not give a favorable recommendation because of public security and order considerations," he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the East Java chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Abdus Shomad Buchori, said the council resolutely ruled out the possibility of holding the gay, lesbian and bisexual conference in Surabaya.
"Such a conference will create enormous problems because homosexualism and lesbianism are sexual abnormalities that can destroy the people`s morals. So we should not try to legitimize them by all sorts of means," he said.
According to sources close to the conference`s organizers, the meeting is to be attended by 200 delegates from 20 Asian countries. Conference discussions would be held in open as well as closed-door sessions. (dar)
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