This picture taken in Surabaya on Feb. 14 shows Indonesian police unit holding condoms, chocolates and a bottle of beer confiscated from a mini markets during at raid on Valentines Day promotions
Authorities in Indonesias second largest city, Surabaya, have issued an advisory aimed at restricting the sale of condoms in supermarkets and convenience stores following an outcry over reports that condoms were sold in chocolate gift packages ahead of Valentines Day.
A circular published on the website of the citys Trade and Industry Department urges shop owners to keep condoms from open view and put them on shelves that are not easily reachable.
People wishing to buy condoms should ask shopkeepers, the statement said.
It also tells shop owners not to sell condoms to people under 21 years of age or those who are unmarried, and not to package them together with other goods unless this is approved by the product makers.
Condoms are currently sold freely at convenience stores and the instruction is not legally binding.
The letter said the instruction was part of efforts to preserve the sanctity of the nations values and protect the youth.
Premarital sex is widely considered taboo in Indonesia, home to the worlds largest Muslim-majority, and government campaigns aimed at promoting the use of condoms as part of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts have regularly come under fire.
Two years ago then-Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi was heavily criticized after her message supporting the distribution of condoms to vulnerable people sparked accusations by conservative Muslim groups that she was promoting promiscuity.
Last week, the countrys top Islamic authority, the Indonesian Council of Ulema, urged the government to regulate the sale of condoms, arguing that they could be misused to engage in pre-marital sex.
The remarks came following reports that chocolate bars packaged together with condoms were sold in convenience stores as part of Valentines Day promotions, raising concerns among conservative Muslims.
The council said it was also considering a fatwa, or religious edict, against celebrating Valentines Day on the ground that it could lead to promiscuity and alcohol binges.
Source:blogs.wsj.com
Hii habari ya mtoa mada ni ya uongo.
Serikali ya Indonesia inajaribu kuwakinga watoto na maovu ya ngono.
Polisi walikamata watoto wa shule chini ya umri wa miaka 18 katika chumba vya mapenzi (love hotels).
Walipatikana na risiti zilizoonyesha kuwa walinunua pombe kinyume cha sheria. Kuvutia biashara wakati wa siku ya Mapenzi ya Valentine Day, baadhi ya wafanyabiashara wanauza package ya mapenzi: condon, bia na chokleti katika mfuko mmoja.
Polisi walienda kwenye hayo maduka na kukamata hivyo vitu vinavyoonekana katika picha kwa kuwauzia watoto "package" kinyume cha sheria.
Japokuwa asilimia 85% ya Indonesia ni Waislamu, pombe inauzwa na condom zimejaa madukani. Watu wako huru kabisa.
Hapa wananchi wamesoma na hawataki upuuzi. Sheria zinafuatwa.
Indonesia haifuati SHARIA LAW, ni nchi "secular", sasa hizo FATWA zinatoka wapi kama si kubuni?
Hii chini ni habari ya ukweli siyo propaganda za wazungu kutoka katika gazeti lao wenyewe (thejakartaglobe.com)
We also detained 14 underaged kids and 4 people without identity card. In total, we got around 50 people.
Fifteen couples were also detained in Malang, East Java, local news portal Beritajatim.com reported.
We raided guest houses in Lawang and Kepanjen district, said Adj. Comr. Ainun Djariah, from Malang Police. Some were students and didnt even have ID cards.
Young, unmarried couples in particular run the risk of detention every Feb. 14 when authorities crack down on romantic rendezvous.
The Indonesian Council of Ulema, or MUI, which is Indonesias highest Islamic authority, tells young people every year that celebrating the event can lead to promiscuity and other acts that are not in line with their interpretation of religious teachings.