Planning a trip to Indonesia? - Watch out!

[tridacna]

If you're thinking of going to Indonesia in 3 years, watch out. Don't bring a girlfriend. You could go to jail if you're caught cohabiting. Bring a marriage certificate if you're traveling with your wife!

Indonesia set to pass new criminal code that will ban sex outside marriage

Indonesia is expected to ratify sweeping changes to its criminal code on Tuesday, senior officials confirmed, in a legal overhaul that critics say could curb freedoms and police morality in the Southeast Asian nation.

www.reuters.com

 

[Pressurehead]

It was a topic this morning with people who travel there, and a lot of Aussie fly to Indo [as they call it] for holidays.

ABC this morning: Indonesia to pass new criminal code that will ban sex outside marriage

 

[Grantt]

They have been trying to pass this for years. There will be more protests to have it blocked.
Religious zealotry must be beaten back.

 

[dlofting]

Sounds like your OK if it's just you and your spouse traveling to Indonesia....just don't bring any other, "close", relatives with you.

 

[Tippytoes12]

There must be an election coming up ! My husband and I have been married for 25 years, I did not change my name, as is the norm in my country of origin, and we certainly don’t travel with our marriage certificate. In Egypt if one partner is from a Muslim country, I believe that a marriage certificate is required for two people of the opposite sex to check into a hotel. Am sure that Indonesia will get around this with various exemptions.

 

[Grantt]

Even if this does go through, it won't affect tourists.
Just like their alcohol ban, there are exemptions in the tourist hotels in Jakarta and all of Bali.
On this bill specifically, it says complaints can only be filed by family members.

 

[matts1w]

A couple of facts:
1. In this proposal's current form, charges can only be brought against someone for out-of-marriage relations and/or cohabiting by a family member.

2. The sex before marriage and cohabitation laws already exist in many areas of Indonesia and can be enforced by certain organizations such as the public order police called SATPOL PP. This would take the ability to enforce these regulations away from them unless charges are brought by a close relative and ending their "morality raids" on hotels and such.

3. In my 14 years of living in Indonesia, alcohol has never been more readily available and cheaper in Bali and Jakarta than it is now.

A quick opinion:
1. We go through this with sex and booze every year or two. This, too, will soon pass. It makes for great clickbait and gives attention to certain politicians, religious leaders, and western media organizations.

 

[Indah]

Only children or the spouse can report. Without a report no case. And the report always involves both of the couple involved. So, absolutely nothing to do with visiting tourists.
Indonesia does not have any financial social security in case a spouse is left behind by his (usually by her) partner. By the way, divorce is legal in Indonesia as well. Very bad journalism and cheap click-bait.

 

[Scraps]

It pays to live a boring life. I cannot imagine any laws pertaining to sexual activity having any bearing on my dive travel.

 

[Doc Harry]

Our group just cancelled our 2-week trip to Bali, even though we are all married couples.

Religious fantacism cannot be tolerated.

We're going to Palau instead.