JAKARTA (Reuters)-
Police in Indonesia's most populous province plan to deploy ataskforce to investigate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT)
Campaign, which could raise concerns about the growing crackdown on Muslim communities --
Most countries.
West Java police chief Anton Charliyan disclosed the plan on Tuesday, when two gay men in Aceh were publicly whip flo, a few days after police raided a gay club in Jakarta, and released photos of the suspect to the media.
In addition to Aceh, homosexuality is legal in Indonesia.
However, activists say the police are targeting same-sex with mutual consent, and the issue of discrimination and harassment has been exposed among the world's third-largest gay group.
The greatest democracy
Indonesia's reputation for tolerance has been censored as Jakarta's governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, is a Christian who was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy this month.
For Sunday's raid in Jakarta, Charliyan told reporters in Bandung, capital of West Java that the population of West Java is about 47 million. LGBT people suffer from "physical and soul diseases ".
He called on the public to report on their activities.
Charliyan said: "I hope there are no followers in West Java, no lifestyles or traditions of gay or LGBTQ.
"If anyone follows, they will face legal and heavy social sanctions.
They will not be accepted in society.
A prominent gay, bisexual and transgender activist attacked his remarks, confirmed in a recording provided to Reuters by reporters present at Charliyan's speech on Tuesday.
"The police have the authority to comply with the law.
They are not moral police, "said Yuri rutinwati, chairman of the LGBT activist group Arus Pelangi in Indonesia.
According to Detik news portal, Charliyan said in a speech on Wednesday that the police "task force" will include intelligence experts and pay special attention to the destruction of "secret parties ".
Police spokesman Setyo Wasisto said the practice in West Java did not reflect the national strategy.
"It is enough for us to deal with this as usual," he said . ".
Charliyan's review is in a series of high
Just as the country's constitutional court will rule a petition banning homosexuality and adultery, the police have taken notable action against gay clubs and political parties.
On Sunday, police detained 141 men and released photos of some of them undressing to the media, revealing many of their identities.
Only 10 were declared suspects, 5 were still under investigation and 126 were released.
According to the Jakarta Post, police said the photos were released due to "procedural errors.
However, Rustinawati of Arus Pelangi said the release of the photos was part of a model in which the police publicly shamed homosexuality.
The two Yazhi men were fined in front of more than 1,000 people on Tuesday, with each being fined 82 times. Semi-
The province of Aceh is an autonomous province under the jurisdiction of Islamic law.
Earlier, a video showed that the men were naked and miserable when they were arrested by Islamic law police, and the video was released and widely watched on social media.
The second one in Indonesia
According to Indonesian media reports, 14 gay men were arrested and tested for HIV in the largest city of Surabaya in East Java. The results were announced.
Police also released data.
Name and address, "said Rustinawati.
"It puts LGBT people at risk.
On Tuesday, North Jakarta police chief Dwiyono, like many Indonesians, raided gay clubs on Sunday.
As they climbed the third floor, he pointed out a gym, a public Jacuzzi for "strip" and a bunch of compartments for sex.
"This door can only be opened if you pay Rs 185,000 ($14)
He said to the receptionist.
"Here, there is no locker room, you just have to tear off your clothes and use a towel.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who provided qualified support to gay communities last year, told the BBC that "no one should be discriminated against" and then pointed out that homosexuality is in his
However, his defense minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu, said homosexuality was a national security threat and part of a foreign "proxy war" against Indonesia.
In 2013, a survey by the Pew Research Center showed that 93% of respondents in Indonesia did not agree that "society should accept homosexuality ".
Islamic State in Indonesia has been calling for the crime of same-sex.
Front of Islamic Defenders (FPI)
Leading groups against the current large rally
For more than a decade, the governor of Jakarta has been working with police to curb suspected crimes.