It's Bald Bieber Time...

Yes, I know, there is something very wrong with how that sounds!

It seems the Bieber-meister (or is that monster?) has a new film out. In order to promote this exceptional foray onto the silver screen he has been doing the rounds of some of the best shows in town, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Saturday Night Live, and most recently Jimmy Kimmel Live. I like Jimmy Kimmel, he is a funny guy. He is also responsible for this really funny skit with Matt Damon taking the piss out of himself as Jason Bourne. It ends with "who the f*&k is Jimmy Kimmel. I remember it still.

I am sure that the Bieb's latest antics are going to cause quite a lot of teenage girl angst. But, that will pass because what is about to be described only happened in skit world.

Justin Bieber shaved his head. On this front, I am with Kimmel, he looks like a teenage Lex Luther. The Bieb's seems to think he looks more aerodynamic and a lot like Michael Jordan. There is one thing you can say about Bieber; the youngster is not short on confidence!

Lea Michele of Glee Fame: Too Sexy For Her Teenage Fans?

It is confession time. I have not yet sat down and watched anything Glee related. That said, I have an idea of what it is about based on my travels through cyber space. So, it is interesting that at least one Glee star, Lea Michele, finds herself the subject of a little more controversy.

The main characters of Glee did a very sexy high-school themed photo shoot for GQ. The GQ shoot ruffled quite a few feathers and was slammed for promoting pedophilia. However, this latest storm is a storm in a tea cup and is not really worth the space that will be devoted to it.

Here is the nuts and bolts of the latest controversy/ Glee is a high-school themed show where the lead actors are not high school students but adult actors playing teenage roles. One of those actors, Lea Michele, recently did a sexy cover shoot for Cosmopolitan Magazine. It was only sexy because the cover shot was Michele in a plunging neckline dress which accentuated her breasts. Sadly, this has left some 11, 12 and 13-year-olds dazed and confused as to why none of their classmates are so sexy and able to carry off a dress of that calibre. Parents are up in arms all over the place. It is almost as if the principal sat down with Kindergarten and told them that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are not real.

Lea Michele is a 24-year-old adult. If she wants to pose in a plunging neckline dress that accentuates her assets, then so be it. She is an adult and the target audience of Cosmo magazine is contemporary adult.

Any parents with confused teenagers, rather than blaming Michele, how about you sit them down and explain a few things. Perhaps, one could start with Glee being fiction and that the people playing the parts are actors, and some of those actors are in fact adults.

Ho hum...

Court Then Clubbing...

Lindsay Lohan is taking some stick for wearing this dress to court. The main beef with the outfit is that it would be equally at home on the dance floors of most nightclubs, and perhaps more appropriate. Lohan was in court facing a charge of felony grand theft. It is alleged that Lohan lifted a USD 2,500 piece of jewelery, a necklace, from a jewelery store in Venice Beach, California.

Lohan has pleaded not guilty and released on USD 40,000 bail.If convicted, Lohan faces, possibly, a few years in the big house.

I guess this is one of those stories that whets our collective appetites for celebrities coming off the rails and crashing and burning frequently in the public eye. For Lohan, it is sad that a career that started with such promise has fizzled out through self-destructive behaviour.

So, what about that dress...is there a little bit of Basic Instinct and Sharon Stone happening there. Hopefully Lohan did not recreate the most famous scene from that movie for the benefit of the judge.

Ho hum...

Raden Pandji Chandra Pratomo Samiadji Massaid - R.I.P.

Adjie Massaid as he was known passed away this morning. May he rest in peace, and may those that he has left behind find some peace too.

Massaid was an actor who converted his fame into one of public service. He became a politician and was in his second term as a parliamentarian from the Partai Demokrat (Democrat Party).

He was a young man at just 43 years of age to be leaving us by way of a heart attack. Nevertheless, my condolences go out to his family, particularly his wife, Angelina Sondakh and his three children.

May his legacy be one that convinces others of the value of public service in its many forms.

Ariel, Three & A Half Years, and an Appeal?

The sex-tape distribution case of Nazril "Ariel" Irham, or Peterporn as it had come to be known has reached a conclusion of sorts. Ariel has been sentenced to 3.5 years in the "big house" for his role in distributing a sex tape.

The evidence that was adduced in court and that which was played out in the court of public opinion must have been two very different animals. The reality is that what we know of this case in the public domain is more than enough to suggest that there is sufficient doubt as to whether Ariel had any role in distributing the two sex tapes of him to the public via the internet.

It is pretty obvious that what most people can agree on is that Ariel was the star of, and in, the sex tapes. Admittedly, most others would agree that his fellow cast members were pretty good too. I wonder whether there are any copies of "Ariel does Luna" and "Ariel does Cut Tari" doing the rounds of Glodok, Ratu Plaza or the lane ways of Blok M?

An appeal in this case seems destined to be run by a different set of lawyers. Luna Maya has engaged Taufik Basari to take over from OC Kaligis as her lawyer. Whether Ariel is going to follow suit remains to be seen, but the practice of lawyer shopping through an appeals process is nothing new. Basari is a good lawyer with a solid background with legal aid. But, I am gonna take a stab in the dark and say that he is probably not doing this one pro bono :)

The decision to sentence Ariel to 3.5 years and fine him IDR 250 million is justice gone awry There is simply no justice in sending a young man to prison for making a sex tape. I appreciate that different people have divergent moral views as to what is right and wrong with sex and pornography among consenting adults. However, despite those personal convictions, it seems hard to fathom exactly how the judges reached a conclusion that the prosecution had proved its case. Hopefully, a copy of the legal judgment that highlights the legal reasoning will be forthcoming in the public arena.

Nevertheless, there are those who feel that 3.5 years is insufficient. It goes without saying that the FPI and other hardline Muslim groups are still arguing for the death penalty. Yet, it is interesting to be able to lump the Indonesian Commission for the Protection of Children into the group that believes Ariel escaped with a sentence that was far too lenient. Maria Advianti of the KPAI argues that KPAI data highlights in the period after the Ariel sex tapes were released that there was a spike in child rape offenses by children on children as a result of having watched the Ariel sex tape. The data on that must be made publicly available and be subject to some scrutiny.

Interestingly, the sentence handed down to Redjoy or RJ was for 2.5 years. This is interesting because bothe were in essence accused of the same crime, distribution. Why is it that Ariel gets 3.5 years and RJ only 2.5? Is it that the judges are punishing Ariel more severely because his role in the distribution was bigger? Or is it that the courts and judges in this instance have decided that Ariel as a public figure has a higher level of guilt or responsibility to behave in a certain way because he is popular? And, therefore based on this he should be punished more severely in order to set an example to other celebrities? Or is it that the judges have punished him for making the sex tape in the first place because their collective conscience demands it?

As they say,"it is not over till it is over". I would suggest that this case still has legs and is likely to go a long time on appeal. Hopefully, the appeal courts will see some common sense and not fold in the face of forceful ultra-conservative religious voices from the public domain and affirm the sentence. Instead, it is hoped that the courts seek to apply the law in accordance with the relevant burdens required. The prosecutors must prove that Ariel was involved and evidence to date in the public domain has not met that burden.

A final point. So, where do the cases of Luna Maya and Cut Tari go from here? If the prosecutor was able to convince the court that Ariel's failure to prevent the distribution of the sex tapes was sufficient for a conviction that maintains Ariel was actively involved, then surely the prosecutors must be thinking that this decision gives their cases against Luna Maya and Cut Tari some additional legs.

It would be a rather spectacular fall from grace for Luna Maya and Cut Tari to end up in the big house (aka jail).

Kat Von D and Jesse James: Engaged...

Can you imagine the art work that is going to be present at that wedding ceremony?

Kat Von D, the star of LA Ink, and Jesse James, the former husband of Sandra Bullock, have announced their engagement.

The announcement suggests that they have each found their soul mate and are both happy together.

I wonder if Sandra Bullock will be attending the nuptials?

In the meantime, here are the happy couple (and some additional shots of the beautifully tattooed Kat Von D...all photos available online if one cares to look :D).

Prosecutors Say They Have Done Enough: Ariel Guilty!

Rusmanto the lead prosecutor's response to the defense claims in Nazril "Ariel" Irham's distribution of sex tapes trial was one for the ages:

“We ask the panel of judges to reject the entire statement of defense put forward by lawyers for the defendant.” And, “We stand by the sentencing demand of five years.”

To be honest, every prosecutor who is worth their salt would stand by the arguments that they have made when leading the court through their case. However, the opportunity is one to, in essence, surrebut the defense case. The simple strategy would have been to take each of the defense arguments one by one and rebut them.

For example, the defense argument that the sex tapes were made in 2005 or 2006 and therefore a law passed in 2008, such as the Pornography Law, cannot apply retroactively. The prosecution, for example, might want to have argued that the actual offense of distribution did not occur until 2010 and therefore the law is not being applied retroactively.

The difficulty though of a closed hearing is that it is hard to get an exact account of what the arguments were. With a bit of luck the 'documents' will become publicly available in the near future, or at least "available", for perusal.

A decision in the case that has gripped the nation since June 2010 should be handed-down by 31st January 2011. This is a case that seems to beg for an appeal. So, no matter what the verdict is, this case will be appealed. If Ariel is acquitted as he must be, then there is no doubt that the prosecutors will appeal. If by some unreal twist of fate Ariel does not walk free, then it goes without saying that the defense will appeal. It would be interesting to see how a time served sentence would be viewed by either side.

I wonder how large a police presence will be required in Bandung to keep order? Let's face it, this case has generated extreme feelings on both sides with fans demanding an immediate release and hard-line Islamic groups demanding that Ariel be sentenced to death.

Well, it is almost time for police and law enforcement officials to find another case to distract public attention and scrutiny away from issues that really matter like the ongoing Sidoarjo mud extrusion or the Gayus shenanigans...and it is probably time for me to find something else to follow too. Any suggestions?

How Much Time Should Ariel Do For A Sex Tape?

Here is the crux of this case: "have the prosecutors proved that Ariel was involved in the distribution of either the tape of him having sex with Luna Maya or the tape of him having sex with Cut Tari?" The answer must inform the judges when making their decision. Based on the evidence which has been adduced in court, the answer to this question is "no". The prosecutors have not satisfied the burden of proving Ariel guilty of the charge for which he has been tried.

This trial is not about making and starring in an amateur porn film. Morals aside, it is not a crime to make a sex tape of yourself and another consenting adult in Indonesia. It is illegal to distribute that tape.

Despite the court being closed for the duration of the trial this must not be construed as it being secret. The truth of the matter is that both sides were more than willing to discuss on the record what their respective cases were to the mass media. So, getting a handle on who did what and with whom has not been difficult. For example, the gist of the defense was that the prosecutors had no evidence linking Nazril Irham (aka Ariel) to the alleged distribution of the sex tapes. And, O. C. Kaligis, one of the lead defense lawyers was quoted as having said as much to The Jakarta Globe. The whole defense case ran to some 107 pages (of which I hope to get a copy). The word from the man himself was contained in a 3-page plea which Ariel read to the court. Ariel gave this plea a name, "Nazril Irham, a victim of brutality". Ariel's statement would be a good read because it is hard to imagine what brutality he has suffered.

It is fair to say this is not the "test" case for the laws being argued before the courts. There is little doubt that Ariel has been humiliated by having this case played out in public, there is little doubt that the man has suffered for having his freedom curtailed whilst being detained, but I am not sure that he has been brutalised. Nevertheless, the man should never have done a day in detention. And, a guilty verdict would be unsound and would be an injustice. But, if Boy Afrian Bondjol is to be believed, then brutalisation claims relate to the idea that his privacy has been invaded and that process in the public eye is one that is brutal. Once again, humiliating rather than brutal.

For me, this case has always rested on whether the prosecution could prove that Ariel was involved in the distribution of the sex tapes in which he starred. The argument that he did not doing anything to prevent their distribution is the same as actively distributing them is not sustainable. The assumption is that he knew the tapes had been stolen and that he allowed, in fact encouraged, them to be uploaded to the internet. The balance of evidence would suggest that Ariel knew the sex tapes existed but did not know that they had been stolen.

Yet, the other key issue is whether the Pornography Law can be used in this case. There are interesting legal arguments to be played out here and some serious hair-splitting can occur. By most admissions the sex tapes were made in 2005 or 2006. This by itself suggests that the sex was not that good seeing no one can quite recall when the deeds were done. But, on a more serious note, 2005 and 2006 are both years that passed prior to the enactment of the Pornography Law. Recent Indonesian case law is unequivocal in stating that Indonesian laws cannot apply retroactively. Admittedly, this was a terrorism trial, but the principle was sound.

Although, the Pornography Law was passed in 2008 and therefore seemingly cannot apply to the production of these tapes, there is a different argument in play with respect to distribution. Distribution allegedly occurred in 2010 when the sexual performances of Ariel, Luna Maya and Cut Tari were uploaded to the internet. Therefore, there are arguments to be made that the actual violation of the law occurred within the parameters of the Pornography Law.

The legal reasoning of the decision once it is finally handed down should make for some real interesting reading.

Suicide in Indonesia...

Suicide is a tragedy. It is not only a tragedy for those that make the ultimate choice to end it all, it is also a tragedy for those that are left behind and who must deal with the shattered lives that remain. Two things had me thinking about death and the way it is portrayed and discussed this morning: the first was an article in The Jakarta Globe and the second was seeing that "RIP Justin Bieber" was trending on Twitter (just about anything that has a Justin Bieber link trends or goes viral on Twitter, just ask Conan O'Brien. And, I am wondering whether or not "Justine Bieber: Suicide Death" within this post will result in any additional traffic to this blog post? If there is, then this might be a good thing from an awareness perspective).

This short post is an opinion piece on suicide in Indonesia.

According to The Jakarta Globe, the Ministry of Health's 'suicide hotline' has been ringing off the hook with a sharp increase in the number of calls during the first three months of operation. The hotline number for those that need it is 500-454 (although I recall Jakarta phone numbers having more digits than that...the number is correct, I checked!). The hotline was launched as part of World Mental Health Day in October 2010. Dr. Bella Patriajaya, Head of the Suharto Heerjan Mental Health Hospital, said that the reason was that more people were seeking help for their problems.

The data to-date is showing that not everyone who calls the hotline is intending to commit suicide. There are also significant numbers of people calling who are depressed or suffering other mental disorders. Even though, there is no confession of intent to kill themselves, the suicide hotline is still an excellent starting point for a sympathetic ear and perhaps some direction to services that can provide longer-term support.

Interestingly, the World Health Organization 2001 data states that the suicide rate in Indonesia is 1.6-1.8 suicides per 100,000 people. Nevertheless, a more recent study conducted by Ahmad Prayitno of Trisakti University in Jakarta supports more recent WHO data for Southeast Asia that claims that the suicide rate is closer to 24 incidents per 100,000. This is a staggering number as it would equate to about 50,000 suicides per year or 1,500 suicides per day. The reality is that even this study suspects that the actual rate and numbers are much higher.

The more recent studies are showing a trend in the reasons for suicide becoming more economic related. This includes losing a job, being demoted, or even living beyond one's means and getting into a spiral of uncontrollable debt. Nevertheless, the study also shows that more 'traditional' reasons relating to an inability to deal with emotional trauma remains a significant factor.

One of the biggest difficulties in determining exact numbers is the taboo nature of the subject. In most religions, and communities, suicide is frowned upon. Therefore, it is not uncommon that many suicides go unreported or are misreported as natural or accidental deaths.

It is important to remember that suicide is not a problem unique to one country. So, speak up and reach out! You might just save a life.

Ice-T and Coco...

Ice-T and Coco sounds like a drink. But, it is not. Ice-T made his name as a rapper. He has had much success recently in Law and Order: SVU. He is married to Coco. Coco Austin's claim to fame, aside from being married to Ice-T, seem fairly evident from these Twit Pics, don't you think?





This post may seem a little gratuitous, but there really is a point. That point is: How do you convince people that sending out pictures of themselves that leave so little to the imagination is not a good idea when you see photos like this one and stories that suggest the person pictured has made a career out of this very sort of thing?

Ho hum...

I would follow the links, the pictures are better quality on the original links.

Paris Hilton All Vamped Up...

One day, I hope to be able to learn enough about photoshop and other image editing software so that I can play around with the odd photo or two.

Worth1000.com have a series of celebrities that have been photoshopped with a Twilight theme. All vampires of course.

This one is so obviously Paris Hilton. I had to do a double take to see what had been photoshopped (just kidding!)

Ariel Looking Down the Barrel: Five on the Inside?

Nazril 'Ariel' Irham the front man for the Indonesian band Peterpan is facing a five-year jail term and a fine of IDR 250 million for his alleged role in a porn distribution racket. The sad part about this case is that it should never have gone to trial. There is no case to answer here. Even with a very novel and creative interpretation of the law it is very difficult to see exactly how Ariel has broken the law as the prosecutors have set out to prove.

This is simply a case of a celebrity making a sex tape, having the tapes stolen, and then watching them wend their way online. The only witness for the prosecution is a man who has everything to gain and nothing to lose in testifying that it was all Ariel's idea. Let's face it, Redjoy uploaded the sex tapes to the internet, of that there seems to be little debate. However, how he came into possession of those tapes is the crux of this case. Simply, the prosecutors have not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ariel was a participant in the crime as charged.

The fact that Ariel is the man in the sex tapes is not a crime in and of itself. So, even if the prosecutors were to have proven beyond any doubt that it was Ariel "doing the deed" with Luna Maya and Cut Tari there is no case to answer. This case is solely about the distribution of porn, and the prosecutors have not proven that charge.

The fact that Ariel is a celebrity does not place a larger burden on him to set a good example. If it does, then any public figure must be liable to the same degree. Surely the prosecution is not arguing that there should be one law for the rich and famous and another law for the rest of us, are they?

However, the defense case seems to be hinging on the argument that the anti-pornography law cannot be applied retroactively. This seems to be the weakest of the arguments that they could be making. The simple and best argument is that Ariel was not involved in the distribution of porn. As this seems to be the main thrust of the prosecution case. Irrespective of whether the tapes were made in 2005 or 2006 the production of a private sex-tape between consenting adults is not a crime. So, the production aspect is moot. Once again, this is a case about distributing porn. The tapes were uploaded to the internet in June 2010 and therefore at least in a temporal sense they fall within the gambit of the articles of the Anti-Pornography Law.

I just don't quite get why O.C. Kaligis is harping on the anti-retroactivity angle in preference to just saying "hey, the defendant has not committed any crime!" And, then add "the defense has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not involved in, and did not consent to, the distribution of the sex tapes!"

I guess Kaligis will be making these submissions at the next trial hearing.

Undoubtedly there are divergent opinions on what would constitute a good outcome in this case. But, from a legal perspective it is difficult to see how a conviction could be handed-down. Yet, perhaps more importantly in a legal certainty sense is why the prosecutors have pursued this case with such zeal why letting similar cases fall by the wayside.

Ho hum...

RIP Pete Postlethwaite...

Pete Postlethwaite died this past Sunday after a long battle with cancer at the age of 64. He will be missed! Not only by his surviving family, but by all of those who were fortunate enough to witness his tremendous talents as an actor on screen.

I will always remember his portrayal of Guiseppe Conlon in the film In The Name of the Father. He was nominated for an Oscar for that role, as were his co-stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Emma Thompson. However, he was not only known for that role. He did a lot of work with Steven Spielberg. Postlethwaite so impressed Spielberg that Spielberg described Postelthwaite as "probably the best actor in the world".

Aside from his acting skills, Postlethwaite was a political activist off-screen. He was committed to the climate change cause and threatened to give back an OBE he had been awarded when the British government approved a coal-fired power station in Kent.

Pete Postlethwaite may you rest in peace.

Is John Travolta Gay?

Is John Travolta gay? And, "so what?" if he is. The reality here is that if John Travolta is gay then he has some serious conversations that need to take place with members of his immediate family; starting with his wife.

The rumours regarding John Travolta and his sexuality are not new. To some, like Carrie Fisher (whatever happened to that exceptionally beautiful Princess Leia of Star Wars fame that I remember from my misguided youth?), it was an open secret in the circles of "know" in Hollywood. Fisher describes that secret knowledge in this way:

"Wow! I mean, my feeling about John has always been that we know and we don’t care. Look, I’m sorry that he’s uncomfortable with it, and that’s all I can say. It only draws more attention to it when you make that kind of legal fuss. Just leave it be."

One can just imagine John Travolta slumping in his chair going "Thanks Carrie!"

Yet, it has been reported that Travolta has opted for a course of action that goes along the lines of 'leaving it to people to believe what they want to believe'. So, if he refuses to acknowledge the rumours then how does one prove the rumour? Pictures?

What he chooses to do, and how he chooses to respond, is really a matter for him. Nevertheless, it would seem that Kelly Preston, who is set to become the "long-suffering wife" in the event that the rumours are substantiated, is apparently begging her husband to come clean and tell her the truth. It happens all the time where women marry men who at some point in the future, willingly or otherwise, come out as gay men.

On a personal level, I wonder how one maintains the deception for so long? This is particularly so where the actions are ongoing. It does not seem that the rumours circulating about Travolta's gay spa jaunts are a case of a one-off visit many years ago that has not been repeated since. Once Travolta has dealt with his wife's plea for honesty about his sexuality, I wonder how the Church of Scientology views homosexuality? To be honest, I have never really researched the Church (is it really a Church?).

I really do not care whether John Travolta is gay or not. His sexual preferences are matters and choices for him. To be truthful, I am not bothered one way or the other, if someone is gay or lesbian, then they are gay or lesbian. I am not the one to decide whether they are right or wrong in their choice of sexual and life-time partners. And, this does not change with the degree of fame the person has. I really do not care whether Oprah Winfrey is a lesbian for instance and that is the same for Joe Bloggs up the street.

Yet, I do wonder how we get passed the stigma that "we" as a community attach to being gay or lesbian. I wonder this within the framework of creating safe environments where all people, irrespective of their sexuality, can achieve and realise their hopes and dreams.

Katy Perry: No Make-Up...

It is a new month and, more importantly, a new year. I have, admittedly, been a little slow out of the blocks in 2011. This has been a combination of things; enjoying the holidays before moving to Collarenebri, watching the test cricket on television, and an internet plan that counted teh playing of online games as part of one's download content. A change of plans has meant that I can now focus on the important stuff, blogging.

So, to catch up a little. It was nice to wake up on New Year's Day to find out that the most important story to lead off the new year was one that involved Russell Brand taking a mobile phone picture of his wife, Katy Perry, and posting it on Twitter. Nope, this was not a nude picture or the obligatory celebrity full-frontal I am a star happy snap, but rather it was a picture of Ms. Perry (or is that Mrs. Brand) without her make up on.

The photo has that rabbit in the headlights startled look about it. It sort of looks like the "I am just waking up so get that f*&king mobile phone out of my face" shot.

This got me wondering why this was news at all? Admittedly, Perry is a well-groomed celebrity with a very well-controlled public persona that she maintains. This includes always being well-made up on the make up front.

However, the publication of this photo is a good thing. If nothing else it shows all the fans out there that Katy Perry is just a regular girl with regular features and regular skin. Yep, under all that make up she is just like most other people. Although, most other people do not get on Sesame Street or wear Elmo t-shirts in quite the same way!

Anyway, goodbye 2010 and hello 2011!

Is This the Real Reason the Philippines Lost?

The Philippines went down 1-0 to Indonesia in the recent semi-final of the Asian Football Federation Suzuki Cup. Not long after that defeat, the above picture surfaced on Twitter courtesy of Rahma Azhari (@RaAzhari). The photo shows Rahma getting cozy with Simon McMenemy, the coach of the Philippines.

It appears that some supporters of the national team will go to extraordinary lengths to get a competitive advantage for their team.

Seriously though, the Indonesian national team is playing good football. The "Red and Whites" have reached the final on the back of excellent performances throughout the tournament.

So, how does Rahma Azhari get herself to an after-game party where the Philippines coach is? Is it a family thing that the Azhari's have a special interest in all things football?

Although, the last time I heard anything about Rahma Azhari it involved a good deal of nakedness and full-frontal nudity and a couple of shower scenes with her sister, Sarah Azhari. As I recall, those photos went "viral" on the web as well. Ah, Rahma, and controversy ... I wonder if I posted those pictures, hmmm!

Ariel, Is It You?

The big questions are about to be answered in the ongoing saga that doubles as the Nazriel "Ariel" Irham sex tapes trial. The biggest question of them all, in fact, "Ariel is that you in the tape making mad passionate love with Cut Tari?"

Well, according to Cut Tari, it is Ariel. There were no ifs, buts, or maybes in Cut Tari's testimony. In fact, when Cut Tari appeared to give her testimony she was asked to go to the front of the court room and watch a couple of clips of the [in]famous sex tape that she has admitted to being in. While she was there, the judges asked her who she was bumping uglies with. Cut responded, unequivocally I might add, with "why, your honours that is Ariel!"

Strangely enough, Ariel through his defense counsel is maintaining that, despite the somewhat obvious similarities between the man in the video and him, it is not him doing the bump and grind with Cut Tari. In some ways it is not hard to feel for Cut Tari. This must be an incredibly humiliating experience. She has confessed believing that the truth will set her free. Yet, it has still got to be difficult having this whole sordid affair played out in public. Nevertheless, the trial remains closed to public in order to protect the public's "innocence" and "morality" from harm.

The more interesting part about Cut Tari's testimony is that the video is placed in 2005 or 2006 as a production year. This is interesting because there is no real certainty in that time frame. So, does this mean the affair lasted for some time during that two-year period? Or, does it mean that they made so many tapes of their sexual encounters that she cannot rightly remember which tape this is? It is also interesting because Cut Tari was married in 2004. This has led to some hardliners wanting to see the whole trial process for Cut Tari cast aside and just get to burying her up to her neck and then stone the woman to death.

Folks, it is just a sex tape. It is most definitely not the end of the world as you, or we, know it! Life goes on, the band will keep playing. This whole charade is becoming increasingly not worth the effort.

Although, that said, the prosecutors are pulling out their big guns. Anton Castilani, a police officer from national headquarters has taken the stand to offer expert testimony as to whether there is any likelihood that the man in the video with Cut Tari is in fact Ariel or a very good look-a-like. Castilani's testimony seems to support the prosecution case theory that the man in the mirror is not Michael Jackson but it is Indonesia's own, Nazriel "Ariel" Irham of Peterpan fame.

I will let "you" the experts in the court of public opinion decide for yourselves. The choice bits of this photo for comparison have been pixelated. In my expert opinion, it's Ariel.

Ariel: The Farce Continues...

Wake me up when this trial is done and dusted, please.

I have been away for a little bit more than a week. It has been nice to not read a whole lot of news. It has also been nice to be away from an internet connection, and the temptation to see what frivolity came about in the latest trial hearing in the Peterporn saga. Yet, to be honest, I feel that seeing I started this "follow it through to the end" deal, I should in fact follow through. So, holiday or no holiday, I am back posting a running commentary on why this case should never have gone to trial.

The most recent reports have covered the testimony of Hadi Supeno, the former Head of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI). Supeno cannot be faulted for his commitment to protecting Indonesian children. He is most definitely, at least at face value, committed to seeing that Indonesian children are protected from all manner of harm. However, he is not much of a public relations whiz. He is not good at selling the message.

The primary problem for Supeno is that he talks in generalities and the grand schemes of things. He tends to downplay the "facts" or the "science" in preference for sweeping statements about how "he knows" what will harm Indonesian children and whatever he states must be accepted as is. Unfortunately, and perhaps beneficially for Ariel, no everyone does.

According to Supeno, there are four major impacts that children will encounter as a result of the release of the Ariel / Luna Maya and Ariel / Cut Tari sex tapes, namely: the videos will increase the sexual desires of children, the videos will effect the social and mental development of children, the videos will encourage children to replicate the behaviours they have watched, and the icing on the cake, the videos will lead to an escalation in the criminal activities of children.

Ah, evidence? Boy Afrian Bondjol, Ariel's lead lawyer in the case, questioned Supeno on the four assertions he made in court, and rightly so. Supeno could only offer up that "this" is what he knows. But, Pak Hadi, you really need to stump up some research. Surely, there must be some research that supports the proposition that children who watch pornography are more likely to commit crimes. Or that children who watch porn are more likely to become sexually active at a young age. Or that these increasing numbers of sexually active children are becoming rapists and sexual predators. Any research would do.

Seriously, if this is the best that the prosecution has to offer up as supporting evidence for their desire to see Ariel jailed for up to 12 years and fined a couple of billion rupiah, then one really does need to question the wisdom of bringing this case to court. There is no justice being served here. There is only a desire to deflect public attention from more serious criminal cases and matters that continue to flounder in the deep dark abyss that is the Office of the Attorney General.

Once again, the man made a sex tape...so what? If this "case" was dropped like it should of been then people would no longer be talking about it. So, for that reason alone, perhaps there are arguments here that the Office of the Attorney General and the courts are complicit in keeping this "morally questionable conduct" by Ariel in the public eye. Why would they want to be doing that?

Luna Maya, Ariel and Pemuda Pancasila...

So, what is the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila) doing at the Ariel sex tape trial?

Part of the interest of watching a controversial celebrity trial is watching how the support for and against the defendant align themselves. A trial about sex tapes, and pornography generally, is certain to bring them out.

So, how do they align in the Ariel distribution of sex tapes case?

On, the one side you seemingly have the self-righteous Garis or the Islamic Reform Movement who would like to see Ariel get the death penalty for his lack of morals. To be clear, Garis is about the creation of an Islamic state. It is not about reform of Islam and the promotion of moderate Islam. So, Garis lines up fairly well with the other resident evil in Indonesia, FPI.

The Islam Defenders' Front or, as some people prefer, the white-robed thugs, also would like to see Ariel punished severely. However, there was a moment or two there where the FPI thought Ariel might want to repent and get more in touch with his Muslim spiritual side. Unfortunately, from an FPI marketing point of view, Ariel seems to have chosen a different path to redemption than the one offered by FPI. Strangely, or perhaps logically, enough these are the folks that find themselves aligned with the government through the Office of the Attorney General and the public prosecutors tasked with garnering a conviction.

On the other side, is just about everyone else. Everyone else here includes not only the long-suffering girlfriend, Luna Maya. Tere is also Ariel's daughter and extended family. And, also his dyed in the wool fans, and just about anyone with a shred of common sense. However, also lining up on this side of the equation is Pemuda Pancasila.

Having a look at the photo (thanks Kapan Lagi), it would seem that the Pancasila Youth are there in support of Luna Maya as her personal security. This is probably not a bad idea in a lot of respects. I am not a fan of Pemuda Pancasila, never have been and will never likely be. To each their own though. So, why is it not a bad idea. Well, it is not a bad idea because the police thought the potential for violent conflict at the trial in the District Court in Bandung was so great that they thought it necessary to deploy 600 armed officers. It is a good idea because the FPI and  Garis have threatened violence and intimidation. It is a good idea because this whole trial is a media circus. Therefore, in order to plow your way through the waiting throng a bevy of beefy lads is probably just the thing.

I have heard that this kind of close personal protection is not a hugely expensive deal. So, if the figures I have seen being bandied about are true then somewhere between IDR 60,000 and IDR 150,000 is a pretty good deal. It is also real value for effort for the Pancasila Youth boys as well. Nothing like a little bit of exposure in order to advance one's goals. It would seem that the Pancasila Youth are affiliated with the West Java Chapter and under the auspices of Kang Dasep.

Yet, in the big scheme of things, this is all a side show and an unhappy distraction. I would really like to know what sort of personal toll this is taking on Ariel and Luna Maya, particularly their relationship together. To be honest, it is nice to actually see the degree of loyalty that Luna Maya has. She turns up to each trial hearing and she professes her love of Ariel and her disappointment in the process, particularly the fact that charges were ever pursued and laid.

The question, if I had permission to ask one, would be "will you last?" Take that as you will. Maybe it is will you last personally? Maybe it is will you last as a couple? Maybe it refers to whether there are lasting careers to be repaired here? My personal hope is that the case runs out of steam and just dies where it stands. So, my second question follows on from the first in that sense, "where do you go from here?"

There will undoubtedly be more posts on this. I think it is time to look at a few more issues in depth and do a little bit of critical legal analysis on matters such as retroactive use of laws, legal representation, prosecutorial discretion or misconduct, and the like.

So, perhaps this story needs a narrator, maybe we should 'call him Ishmael'!

Luna Maya Is Sad...

I abominate all honourable respectable toils, trials, and tribulations of every kind whatsoever. It is quite as much as I can do to take care of myself ...

- Ishmael (From Moby Dick)

It is the essence of gossip that there are so many personal struggles that would be time better spent that gloating over the trials and tribulations of others as we watch their lives unravel on national TV and in the tabloids. Ho hum...

The saga that is Peterporn and the trial of Nazriel 'Ariel' Irham is destined to take its toll on many more than just the man in the middle of all this. There are those novice female porn stars who took part in the sex tapes, the extended families of all, the lawyers and prosecutors, and the fans and other supporters. Perhaps it is worth having a sneak peak at Luna Maya and her struggles with this particular 15-minutes of fame that she did not expect or seek.

Luna Maya was famous before this sex tape, and she will continue to be famous after it. The sex tape will be something that is always there, but ultimately it is not going to be the sole event that defines her or her career. There is no doubt that the public's fascination with the intimate details of the sex lives of the rich and famous will ensure that the sex tape always remains an interview question, the reality is that there will be other celebrities with more juicy scandals to follow in the future. Once this trial is done and dusted, then interest will subside and life will get back to some degree of normalcy for all involved, including me.

Luna Maya is the girlfriend in this sex tape saga. The video that she is in is a grainy, poor quality mobile phone job. What is sad about this is that people film themselves all the time. What is sad about this is that sometimes these "home movies" include footage that is better left in private circles. What is sad about this is that despite your best intentions, there are always those that will exploit your fame for 15-minutes of fame for themselves. What is sad is that the ignorant here are winning the war.

This is just a sex tape, nothing more and nothing less. It is not earth-shattering footage. It is not the end of the world. God is not going to cast thunderbolts down to earth and destroy it and us because Ariel and Luna Maya got down and dirty. More to the point, and God aside, there has been no crime committed here. This is a tape that was created for personal purposes. I am pretty sure it was not created for the purposes of playing on the big screen in the background to future marriage nuptials. I am not going to judge them for making the tape. To each their own.

The legal issues are just as interesting to me as the fascination we have as human beings with the misfortune of others. For example, if Ariel is guilty of helping distribute the sex tape, then where is the actual perpetrator who did the distributing? And, why is this person not on trial somewhere? Even more critical is the chain of possession of the offending sex tapes.

The prosecution case looks weak, very weak. One has to wonder why this case ever went forward, particularly as it seems to be a "test case" with respect to the provisions of the law indicted here.


If the tapes were stolen, then Ariel and Luna Maya are victims. So, if Luna Maya is sad, she has a right to be.