Playboy Goes To Indonesia

[Wicked Pilot]

Tame Playboy sparks excitement in Muslim Indonesia

Apr 7, 8:41 AM (ET)

By Jerry Norton

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Playboy magazine may no longer rate on the sexual cutting edge in some places, but the first edition in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, caused a stir Friday.

Although the pictures inside showed less skin than U.S. issues 50 years ago, copies were being passed from desk to desk in Jakarta offices, high demand was reported, and newspapers and broadcasters dwelt at length on the Indonesian issue.

A leader of one militant Islamic group threatened to use force, if necessary, to get the magazine withdrawn.

Like the iconic original, the Indonesian Playboy included a serious interview, in-depth articles and color pictures of women, including a fold-out. But no nipples were exposed in the photos, let alone anything approaching full nudity.

"I didn't see any surprising thing in this magazine. It depends on how people interpret it. For me, no problem," Alex, a white-collar worker who did not want to give his full name, told Reuters Television.

A 40-year-old housewife, Maya, disapproved. "Surely it is against the new anti-pornography law," she said.

Condemnation also came from Chamammah Soeratno, head of the women's wing of major Muslim moderate group Muhammadiyah.

"Everyone knows it's a pornographic magazine. The first edition may not have any nudity. That's a very clever move by the publishers," she told Reuters.

Indonesia's parliament is debating a law to significantly tighten control of media as well as public behavior in an effort to reduce what its proponents see as pornography.

Indonesia has many magazines on news stands that go further than the new Playboy in the sexual content of their articles and at least as far in their pictures.

In fact, magazine and newspaper agent Azis, 41, told Reuters Playboy was not different enough from an existing upscale Indonesian men's magazine, Matra.

But even months ago the Playboy image and its Western origin had sparked protests at the mere news of plans for the Indonesian edition, despite promises of a tame version.

Around 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam. Although most are moderates, there is a growing tendency toward showing Islamic identity and conservative attitudes.

The government is officially secular and tolerant of other religions, and pressure to make laws more in line with orthodox beliefs has been a regular source of controversy in recent years.

Some militant groups have taken things into their own hands on occasion by, for example, attacking unlicensed churches and bars selling alcohol during the Muslim fasting period.

"I am afraid to sell the first edition because it has been reported that the Islamic organizations would be on alert," said newsstand owner Ronni, 30, who operates near the headquarters of a hardline Muslim group, the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI).

Tubagus Sidiq, a senior leader of FPI, told Reuters: "FPI opposes (Playboy) in whatever form."

"According to our commitment, if they don't withdraw it then we will act in our own way, the forceful way. Our crew will clearly hound the editors ... We even oppose the name Playboy."

The government took a different view.

"The laws that we can use in this case (are) whether there is a publication that violates decency. So, we need to check the content first. Just using the name is insufficient to ban it," Information Minister Sofyan Djalil told reporters.

Bambang Kuncoko, a national police spokesman, said at a news conference that "the public should follow the law and must not take arbitrary actions. If that happens, the police will absolutely take legal actions."

Late Friday afternoon about 20 FPI protesters, outnumbered by journalists covering them, showed up at the Playboy publishers offices, and local news radio said a representative team met with the magazine's editors.

Despite regular campaigns against pornography, many sidewalk vendors in Indonesia stock sexually explicit movies and the country has a flourishing sex industry.

Founded in 1953, Playboy has about 20 editions around the world that cater to local tastes.

In the grand scheme of things this is pretty 'meh', but interesting nonetheless.

[DPDarkPrimus]

I'd be interested in seeing a comparision chart of the various editions, detailing differences in content, both textual and visual.

[Crayz9000]

I'd be interested in seeing a comparision chart of the various editions, detailing differences in content, both textual and visual.

Or, in so many words, "I demand pictures!"

But yeah, a comparison would be interesting.

[Wicked Pilot]

I'd be interested in seeing a comparision chart of the various editions, detailing differences in content, both textual and visual.

In the interest of pure research, of course.

[Spartan]

Good to see that some militant group can threaten violence and operate openly, over a magazine without condemnation. Wow, just wow!

[PainRack]

as an interesting note.......

Playboy model is proud

Its quite interesting considering the outcry, because Amber Chia herself said that the photo shoot she did for FHM Indonesia was more risque than Playboy.

[Elfdart]

And in related news, Kindasleazy Rice has banned Playboy from the newstands at the State Department:

Such bullshit

Washington Whispers

By Paul Bedard

4/10/06

Skin Mags? Not at This Department

Foreign Affairs, the Economist, and certainly U.S.News & World Report are titles you'd expect to see at the two State Department newsstands visited by the public, employees, and their kids, but Playboy and Penthouse? Yikes! Or so thought Condoleezza Rice a while back when she began receiving briefings in Foggy Bottom before her confirmation hearings as secretary of state. Alerted by an aide that the skin magazines, partially clad in brown paper covers, were placed beside newsmagazines and close to candy, nuts, and stuffed animals, she said, "I want them out."

A few weeks later, when she took over from Colin Powell, the eviction began. "The secretary wanted them gone immediately," says senior adviser Jim Wilkinson." She didn't understand how a department that claimed to fight for the rights of women worldwide could sell pornography that degrades women." And, he adds, the magazines "could be seen as contributing to a hostile work environment." He teamed with State's internal manager and several State women who had been campaigning against the publications but had gotten nowhere. Now that they have succeeded, some of those women are eyeing other lad mags like Maxim and FHM. But State News's Richard Williams isn't listening. It was no problem banning the XXX fare: It didn't move very fast. "But Maxim," he says, "is a bestseller."

Playboy is about as risque as the Victoria's Secret catalogue. What's this bullshit about a "hostile work environment"? I'd consider it a hostile environment to have to work around a bunch of wowsers.

[Lagmonster]

This is a good thing. It only takes a pair of boobs to force men to question their traditional world view - especially if it has been, up until then, a boob-less view.

[kheegster]

No titties eh? What makes it worse than FHM then? Looks like it's just a knee-jerk reaction to the Playboy name.

Good to see that some militant group can threaten violence and operate openly, over a magazine without condemnation. Wow, just wow!

Is this any different from the US, for example in the case of 'pro-life' nutters threatening abortion doctors?

[DPDarkPrimus]

Good to see that some militant group can threaten violence and operate openly, over a magazine without condemnation. Wow, just wow!

Is this any different from the US, for example in the case of 'pro-life' nutters threatening abortion doctors?

Ah, but they get prosecuted.

[Sofia]

Or, in so many words, "I demand pictures!"

But yeah, a comparison would be interesting.

At Borders bookstore (where I work) there's a big, glossy hardcover book that has all the playmates from the last fifty years. It was missing a sticker, so I had to bring it to the back room anyway, but I used the opportunity to flip through some. (It's odd, I'm a hetero girl, but there's still a "naked ladies!" alarm that goes off in my brain. probably because it's somewhat forbidden, and therefore interesting.)

So, basically, the tits get bigger, hair and hips disappear and everything gets tanner. It'd be interesting to really go through sometime and compare the different decades.

[PainRack]

something of interest......

Asian values?

[Elfdart]

So, basically, the tits get bigger, hair and hips disappear and everything gets tanner. It'd be interesting to really go through sometime and compare the different decades.

Fake knockers kinda ruined it after 1987. Now most of the models are skinny fake blondes with fake tits and fake tans that make their skin look like overcooked bacon. A local girl made Playmate of the Month last February and she really stood out because she was a brunette with natural jugs who didn't wear a ton of makeup.

[Sofia]

A local girl made Playmate of the Month last February and she really stood out because she was a brunette with natural jugs who didn't wear a ton of makeup.

Did she have big ones?

[Duckie]

A local girl made Playmate of the Month last February and she really stood out because she was a brunette with natural jugs who didn't wear a ton of makeup.

Did she have big ones?

Sadly that's kind of a given, really.

I must be one of the small majority that finds gigantic ones (fake or real) rather strange-looking at best.

[Zero]

A local girl made Playmate of the Month last February and she really stood out because she was a brunette with natural jugs who didn't wear a ton of makeup.

Did she have big ones?

Sadly that's kind of a given, really.

I must be one of the small majority that finds gigantic ones (fake or real) rather strange-looking at best.

I'm with that too. They're fun, but I don't have the same fixation as most males. Although I also don't prefer these insanely skinny chicks they feature in magazines these days. I don't want to see her ribcage when I want to fuck her, yknow? But I'm odd.

[Elfdart]

A local girl made Playmate of the Month last February and she really stood out because she was a brunette with natural jugs who didn't wear a ton of makeup.

Did she have big ones?

And how! Unlike the other models, she's not stick thin, either.

SFW
http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/CAMPISI-HD.jpg

Dallas Morning News April 10, 2006:
Dallas Morning News

Hometown Playboy pinup Amber Campisi had two famous dates Tuesday night. She showed up courtside for the Mavericks-Kings game with her famous dad, restaurateur Corky Campisi. She almost stopped the game as she and her poorly concealed assets descended the arena stairs and settled into a seat.

Male fans were disappointed when she did not return for the second half.

For more, just type her name in any image search engine. You won't be disappointed.

Her family is kind of famous around here because Jack Ruby used to eat at her father's restaurant quite often, including the day he killed Lee Harvey Oswald.

[Wicked Pilot]

And the attacks have begun...

Jakarta police want Playboy to put off next issue

Apr 13, 10:00 AM (ET)

By Telly Nathalia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Jakarta's police chief said Thursday that the Indonesia publishers of Playboy magazine should put off their next issue after attacks on their offices.

About 300 hardline Islamists vandalized the building housing Playboy's offices Wednesday in a protest against its publication in the world's most-populous Muslim nation.

The protesters threw rocks at the front lobby, breaking windows of the building in the south of Jakarta several days after the magazine hit Indonesian news-stands for the first time.

Police made some efforts to stop the attackers but did not arrest anyone.

"It would be better if there were a deal to postpone the second edition," Jakarta police chief Firman Gani told reporters.

He said he planned to ask the publishers to meet with police to discuss the matter, but would appeal to higher authorities for support of a postponement if Playboy did not voluntarily comply.

The postponement would allow police time to investigate whether Playboy's first issue had violated any laws, Gani said.

Protesters showed up at the building Thursday as well, but in smaller numbers and without any incidents of violence. They included women and children, while Wednesday's violent demonstrators were exclusively male.

A building manager told reporters that Playboy had actually already vacated its offices on the premises, moving out overnight, and showed journalists the emptied space.

Despite widespread controversy, most observers say Indonesia Playboy's first issue, which bared little more flesh than newspaper lingerie ads, went no further -- or if anything was tamer -- than foreign and domestic competitors already commonly on sale in Indonesia.

Asked why those magazines were not being asked to pull their issues, Gani said that steps would be taken if they also "caused public restlessness."

However, a speaker at Thursday's anti-Playboy demonstration said protesters would act themselves to "sweep" other magazines they consider pornographic off the shelves.

Members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the hardline group that organized the earlier demonstration that turned violent, are known for taking the law into their own hands, for example by attacking massage parlors, and bars selling alcohol during the Muslim fasting period.

In February, they beat on the U.S. embassy gate in Jakarta with sticks and pelted the embassy complex with tomatoes, eggs and stones, breaking windows as outnumbered police looked on.

Some groups have criticized police in the past for selective law enforcement that effectively encourages militant violence, but Gani said police have arrested FPI members on various occasions and were protecting Playboy staff members.

About 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people are Muslims. Most are moderates, but militant groups have been increasingly vocal in recent years.

Several deadly bombing attacks in Indonesia have been blamed on the al Qaeda-linked Southeast Asia militant network Jemaah Islamiah, including blasts in Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people.

Founded in 1953, U.S.-based Playboy has about 20 editions around the world that cater to local tastes.

[kheegster]

To be fair, it seems that the request for postponement is to stave off any violence rather than a persecution. As they have said, that edition of Playboy is no worse than lots of other stuff already on the market in Indonesia.

[Wicked Pilot]

To be fair, it seems that the request for postponement is to stave off any violence rather than a persecution. As they have said, that edition of Playboy is no worse than lots of other stuff already on the market in Indonesia.

By 'attack' I'm not refering to the postponement request, but rather those idiots throwing rocks at the publisher's offices.

[kheegster]

By 'attack' I'm not refering to the postponement request, but rather those idiots throwing rocks at the publisher's offices.

Agreed. But considering that there are 200 million Muslims in that country, the fact throwing rocks is the worst they can do actually shows how isolated these guys are.

[PainRack]

The problem shall be the new anti-pornography law.

Given its vague terms, anything and everything can fall under it, including lingerie ads.