Yogyakarta – Around 50 students from the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) campus’ Proselytizing Institutions Goodwill Forum held an action on February 13 opposing the celebration of Valentines Day claiming that it tarnishes the sanctity of love.

The students also went from one faculty to another holding speeches opposing the celebration of Valentines Day on February 14 each year. “The celebration of Valentines Day is not [part of] Indonesian culture, it damages Indonesia’s younger generation”, said action coordinator Defri Daryanto on Friday.

According to Daryanto, activities demonstrating feelings of love provide [no] benefit. Moreover they are far from the ethnics of social intercourse that are in line with religious teachings. Never mind that many of the activities that are held lead towards the legalisation of sexual relations outside of marriage.

Valentines Day, said Daryanto, in fact narrows the meaning of love more in the direction of sexual relations outside of marriage. Moreover based on evidence, in the lead up to each Valentines Day the sale of condoms goes up at pharmacies and shops as well as condom ATMs, and as a consequence, pregnancies outside of marriage following the celebration of Valentines Day are widespread.

The increase in the sale of contraceptive devices such as condoms, which is widespread in the lead up to Valentines Day, is an indicator of the kind of behaviour that is becoming pervasive among youth.

“The celebration of Valentines Day is usually done through erotic parties that promote sex. Whereas love is far nobler and is not limited to sexual relations,” said Daryanto. Daryanto added that the promotion of free sex also results in an increase in the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers.

After holding speeches opposing Valentines Day, they marched around the UGM campus handing out leaflets against the commemoration of Valentines Day and gave out flowers as a symbolic message that love is eternal for all time and not just for one day.

[Translated by James Balowski.]