JAKARTA (Islam Online) - A feminist Indonesian group opposed the lifting of a ban on male Indonesian government officials to marry a second wife unless approved by the first wife.
Nelaf Molon, the spokeswoman for Government Officials' Wives organization, said that the legislation protected the rights of the Indonesian women without contradicting the rules of Islamic Shariah, since it only limits the right to take a second wife to the approval of the first one. She added that if there are any loopholes in it then it should be reviewed rather than revoked all together.
Khafifa Indara Parwatsa has agreed initially to revoke the government's legislation, instated in 1982, after Minister of Religious Affairs, Ta'al Hassan, objected to a noticeable trend among many high officials to have mistresses because of the ban. Many adultery cases came as a result of the legislation, said sociologist Yu Liana. Some Indonesian newspapers cheered the move.
Meanwhile, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday replaced the national police chief General Rusdiharjo, following a series of bombings and violence across the country.
"By presidential decree, dated September 18, 2000, the national police chief is dismissed with respect and his daily tasks will be taken over by deputy national police chief Lieutenant General S. Bimantoro," Wahid announced at the presidential palace.
The decree became effective on Monday. Rusdiharjo, Bimantoro and the head of the Indonesian armed forces, Admiral Widodo Adisucipto, have been notified of the move.
