Emha reads critical poems before military<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): After extensive ambivalence, rebel poet Emha
\nAinun Nadjib finally decided to read his poems to mark the local
\ncelebration of the Armed Forces (ABRI) Day.<\/p>\n
And the military showed no objection or any attempt to stop
\nhim on Tuesday night when he read his poems which are critical of
\nauthorities at the campus of the Diponegoro University.<\/p>\n
\"There is no ban against art performances in Indonesia,\" said
\nMaj. Gen. Soeyono, the chief of the Diponegoro Military Command
\nwhich oversees security in Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces.<\/p>\n
Emha has been barred from reading some of his works in
\nSemarang and other Central Java cities in the past. One ban was
\nimposed after he refused to submit the poems to the authorities'
\ncensors.<\/p>\n
The poet had earlier been reluctant about participating in the
\nABRI Day commemoration saying that none of his works were
\nconnected with the military.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, he did have one poem related to the military
\nand it was unflattering. The work, entitled Secarik Puisi
\nTercinta Buat ABRI Tercinta (A love poem for the beloved ABRI),
\ncriticizes the corruption and collusion which Emha alleges is
\nrampant in Indonesia and for which perpetrators go unpunished.<\/p>\n
Soeyono, known as an art lover, was in the front row of the
\naudience of more than 100-people who saw the performance. He
\nsmiled when Emha punctuated the critical parts in the poem.<\/p>\n
Later Soeyono said that artists and the military must be able
\nto live side by side, each respecting the other's profession.
\n(har\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/emha-reads-critical-poems-before-military-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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