Playboy on hold for right now in Indonesia

Playboy Indonesia, the ground breaking, news making, headline grabbing mag with no nude ladies, is on hold right now. The much awaited debut of the American magazine came out a couple of weeks ago and was like hotcakes off the shelves. Muslim fundamentalists did not like it though and attacked the offices of Playboy, threatening further violence if the magazine continued to publish. Playboy’s editor pleaded with the protest leaders to check out th magazine and see that there was no offensive material. That is not likely the hardliners may get their wish.

Here in Indonesia, the mob mentality lies under a shallow cover. Things can go off here, for any reason, including elections, cartoons, price hikes in fuel and rice, religious events and local disputes. Too bad the rule of law doesn’t play a more prevalent role in determining outcomes. Playboy isn’t breaking any laws, it the violent mob who are. Media observer Veven S.P. Wardhana said the publisher had a right to produce and distribute Indonesian Playboy. ‘Indonesian people are hypocrites,’ ‘They will verbally reject it, but they will silently buy it,’ he said.

As a Reuters article says, Playboy Indonesia is already being sold on eBay as a collectors item.