Governor of Bali “We do not check marital status upon hotel check-in”… dispel tourist worries
When the United Nations issued a statement and expressed concern about Indonesia’s new criminal law, which bans sex outside marriage and abortion and punishes insults to the president and state institutions, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said summoned a United Nations official to protest.
According to the Jakarta Post and others, on the 13th (local time), the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had summoned United Nations Resident Coordinator for Indonesia Valerie Julien the previous day to protest criticism of the Indonesian government through the media rather than diplomatic channels.
“The United Nations should have come to consult, as do other international representatives,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasha.
“We are concerned that some provisions appear incompatible with fundamental freedoms and human rights, including the equal protection of the law, freedom of religion and belief, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to privacy,” said the United Nations Office in Indonesia. in a statement on the 8th express,” he said.
He also recommended that Indonesia make efforts to comply with international human rights legal obligations and commitments as it prepares to implement criminal law, saying that some provisions violate Indonesia’s international legal human rights obligations and they can violate free speech.
The Indonesian government is trying to allay concerns about the new criminal law to the point that it has even summoned officials in response to criticism from the United Nations.
Governor Wayan Koster of Bali, Indonesia’s largest tourist destination, promised in a statement that “we will not ask for marriage status upon check-in at any accommodation facility, be it a hotel, villa, apartment or a guesthouse” and “we will respect the privacy of tourists.” .
He added that all rumors that flights and hotel bookings were being canceled were fake news and urged “not to make misleading statements that confuse the situation”.
Edward Omar Sharif Hiarieji, Indonesia’s deputy justice minister, also stressed at a press conference the previous day that the new criminal law will not harm foreign investors or tourists and that he will prepare for three years before it takes effect.
He added that the new penal law had to balance the interests of the nation and the people in the context of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society.
The new criminal law approved by the Indonesian parliament on the 6th prohibits sex outside marriage, cohabitation before marriage and abortion, and punishes insults to the president and state institutions.
In addition, those who hold demonstrations without prior authorization, spread false news, spread opinions contrary to national ideologies such as communism, and sell or offer alcohol to drunk people are subject to punishment.
When the new penal code was created, there are concerned voices both inside and outside Indonesia who say that the new penal code violates individual freedom and human rights, freedom of speech and religion, and approaches Islamic conservatism.
/yunhap news
