Alia's cry for peace<\/p>\n
Alia was a rape victim. She fought for peace and justice for
\nher people and for her homeland in Aceh, but without taking up
\narms. Now, the powers that be in Jakarta have decided to deprive
\nher of even a forum to convey the message of her struggle.<\/p>\n
Alia, the title of a drama by playwright Ratna Sarumpaet, is
\nnot quite a fictitious figure. She may be the focus of a play,
\nbut she represents thousands of Acehnese women who have been the
\nvictim of acts of injustices, and are craving for peace.<\/p>\n
It is therefore lamentable that TVRI, the state-run television
\nnetwork, has decided not to air Ratna's play, titled Alia, Luka
\nSerambi Mekah (Alia, Wound on Verandah of Mecca), reportedly
\nbecause of strong objections from the Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
By Tuesday morning, TVRI had not responded to the allegations
\nmade by Ratna that its decision not to air the play -- originally
\nscheduled for Dec. 15 to mark International Human Rights Day --
\ncame at the behest of the military, or because it was afraid that
\nit would offend the powers that be.<\/p>\n
TNI has denied that it had any role in the decision, but its
\nspokesman Col. D.J. Nachrawi was quoted by The Jakarta Post on
\nTuesday as saying that: \"If TVRI canceled the play, maybe it was
\ndue to the script itself -- does it (the script) make any
\ncontribution to the government's efforts to create peace in the
\nprovince, or will it affect the current peace process?\"<\/p>\n
If Ratna's claim of TNI intervention was true, then TVRI's
\ndecision not to air the play by Ratna's Satu Merah Panggung
\nTeater is yet another major setback for democracy.<\/p>\n
The losers are not only the women and people of Aceh in whose
\ninterest the play was trying to represent, but also the nation
\nbecause this means the return to censorship practices.<\/p>\n
It takes us back to the recent bygone era where censorship was
\nthe norm. And TNI was one of those state institutions with an
\nappalling record for curtailing the people's right to free
\nexpression. No wonder many people had a sense of deja vu upon
\nhearing the news on Sunday that the play's airing had been
\ncanceled.<\/p>\n
We don't share with Nachrowi's claim that it might be best not
\nto air the show in support of the current peace process in Aceh.
\nPeace in Aceh will be better served if stories like Alia's, as
\npainful as they are to hear, are allowed to be told and discussed
\nfreely. Hopefully, such discussions will lead to peace and
\njustice. Burying the truth, which is what those who oppose the
\ndrama's broadcast on TV, are doing, only creates artificial
\npeace, which cannot be long lasting.<\/p>\n
We hope that TVRI will reconsider its decision and air Ratna's
\nplay. Alternatively, other TV stations should take up the
\nchallenge. These TV stations owe this much to the people of Aceh,
\nand to the people of this country, and to democracy.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Alia's cry for peace and justice is ours too.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alias-cry-for-peace-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }