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Transgender women join rally in Jakarta against draconian criminal code revisions
Merdeka - February 12, 2018
In speeches, the protesters said they opposed the enactment of the draft of the revised the Criminal Code (RKUHP) because it fails to side with marginal groups, in particular women, children, people living with HIV/AIDS (ODHA) and minority groups such as those that adhere to a different religion, belief or gender identity.
"The draft KUHP will kill democracy and trample on freedom of expression and opinion", said Nining, a representative from the Indonesian Trade Union Alliance Congress (KASBI) which is part of the alliance.
According to Nining, the RKUHP threatens the government's program to bring prosperity to the people, particularly in terms of social issues, education and welfare. "Reject the enactment of the draft KUHP now", shouted the protesters.
A number of transgender women (waria) also joined the rally loudly shouting that they reject the RKUHP because they feel discriminated against and it fails to side with the ordinary people.
One of the sections of the RUU KUHP which deals with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) is currently being deliberated by the DPR. The RUU KUHP working committee (panja) is currently discussing broadening the criminal provisions on adultery and rape.
"Those who have come here obviously do not agree [with the draft], moreover what they want to enact, we will be very venerable to (discrimination) the broadening [the criminalisation of] adultery, because many of our friends are sex workers. What's important is that we reject it", said a representative of the waria who declined to give their name.
The action began at around 3pm. There was no police presence or special security evident as the protesters were giving speeches. The demonstrators disbanded in an orderly manner just before maghrib (evening prayers). [rzk]
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was Tolak RKUHP, sejumlah waria ikut demo di depan Gedung DPR.]
Source: https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/tolak-rkuhp-sejumlah-waria-ikut-demo-di-depan-gedung-dpr.html.
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