Some of Indonesia's LGBT activists, however, saw a silver lining to the controversy. “But if LGBT means a mass movement to influence other parties to become like them, then there's no room here.” Dede Oetomo, one of Indonesia's most prominent LGBT activists and founder of LGBT rights group GAYa NUSANTARA said Budi's remark did not come as a surprise but it showed “the president doesn't understand human rights”. WorldREUTERS -Indonesia said on Thursday there was “no room” for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement in the country, after Human Rights Watch criticised the government for failing to protect the group that has come under unprecedented attack. He said if successful, the petition would lead to long term consequences with “another few decades of battle” ahead for LGBT activists wishing to fight any such criminalisation. The comment “grew into a cascade of threats and vitriol” against LGBT Indonesians, fuelling increased hostility from family and neighbours and fostered stigmatisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released on Thursday.

Source: Sunday Times August 11, 2016 12:22 UTC