​New proposed Criminal Code bill would prohibit cohabitation in Indonesia

We’ve never been big fans of the government meddling in our private lives, but things could actually get a whole lot worse if a new bill is passed.

According to Detik, Presiden Joko Widodo recently proposed a new Criminal Code (KUHP) bill to the House of Representatives (DPR) prohibiting cohabitation in Indonesia. Violators of the proposed law would be punished with 1 year in prison or a fine of Rp 50 million. 

Cohabitation is not looked upon as “a morally responsible action” according to the proposed law. It is described in the Indonesian language as “kumpul kebo”, or “bull herding”, in which couples who live together who aren’t married are likened to animals.

That said, the proposed law would not punish homosexuals who cohabitate, probably because it would be difficult to determine whether two males or two females who live together are in a romantic relationship.

The proposed law would also prohibit non-consensual oral sex, anal sex, or any sexual acts involving sex toys on a partner, even in marriage (although this may be a good thing, as rape between spouses is not commonly recognized as a crime in Indonesia).

The government has already been using bullshit laws to justify police raids on cohabitating couples, so this new Criminal Code, if passed, would only give them more power to police our bedrooms. We still doubt such invasive laws could make it through parliament, but considering the creeping conservatism exhibited by the government recently, we can’t be sure.



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