Indonesia: Aceh punk rockers accused of manipulating permit

Indonesia: Aceh punk rockers accused of manipulating permit

The Jakarta Post , December 18, 2011

The Banda Aceh Ulema Assembly (MPU) accused dozens of youths described as “punks” that were arrested during a concert at the city’s cultural park, of manipulating the concert permit.

“They had fooled the cultural park management, the MPU, and the police, by saying that they were holding a charity concert for orphans,” Banda Aceh deputy mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal said as quoted by tempo.com on Sunday.

As many as 65 youths were arrested during a punk rock concert and brought to a detention center.

Illiza also said that he had received complaints from residents about the presence of the punk community. “This community is really corrupt and deviant from Islamic teachings,” he said.

Aceh people party secretary-general Thamrin Ananda said he was against the raid because it was against the principle of freedom of expression.

“It is possible that they held a charity concert. A concert could be stopped if it had violated laws,” Thamrin said.

“A punk rock concert is just the same as any other concert,” he added. (swd)

Hard-line Indonesian police round up punk rockers

Hard-line Indonesian police round up punk rockers
The Associated Press, Banda Aceh, The Jakarta Post

Police in Indonesia's most conservative Muslim province of Aceh have a new Public Enemy No. 1: punk rockers.

Police official Iskandar Hasan said Wednesday that 65 youths were rounded up during a weekend concert and brought to a detention center where their spiky mohawks - deemed insulting to Islamic traditions - were buzzed off.

They were stripped of body piercings, dog-collar necklaces and chains, then thrown in pools of water for "spiritual" cleansing. Their "disgusting" clothes were replaced and each was handed a toothbrush and told: "Use it!"

Aceh, on Indonesia's westernmost tip, banned alcohol and gambling after gaining semi autonomy from the secular central government five years ago. It's also compulsory for women to wear headscarves.

Hard-line Indonesian police round up punk rockers