The legal action against Playboy comes as a small, hardline Islamic bloc in
parliament is pushing a bill to ban art, culture and literature deemed erotic
or offensive.
Opponents say the so-called anti-pornography legislation, which has drawn tens
of thousands of demonstrators on both sides of the issue, would undermine
Indonesia's secular traditions.
Under Indonesian law, declaring someone a suspect is a formal step in a police
procedure, indicating there is enough initial evidence to build a case for
trial.
Arnada, a seasoned Indonesian journalist, could not be reached for comment.
Earlier, police investigators "upgraded" Gunawan's status to suspect, said
defence lawyer Sinarta Bangun. Both Arnada and Gunawan are being investigated
for breaking an article of Indonesia's criminal code, known as a "decency
violation."
As a professional model, Gunawan believed she was dealing with a legal magazine
that publishes images within limits set by the government, the lawyer said.
Gunawan said she was worried but had the "full support" of her family.
"I am not sorry, because every decision I made was well considered," Gunawan
told reporters after being questioned by police Thursday. "I was not trying to
make a sensation, many more people posed more vulgar than I did."
Before working for Playboy, Gunawan was a relatively unknown television actress
who was featured in several soap operas but had never modelled professionally
or posed in other publications, her agent said.
The US-based magazine, which has 20 international editions, toned down its
content for Indonesian readers, but the release of 100,000 copies nonetheless
drew violent protests from hardliners who called it was immoral and illegal.
Unlike other versions, Indonesian Playboy contains no nudity. The company has,
however, become the focus of conservative, anti-American sentiment in the
secular country.
A group known as the Islamic Defenders' Front - which has a history of
attacking bars and nightclubs and stoned the Playboy office in April -
threatened action against the publishers. Frightened advertisers responded by
pulling their ads.
