Emha uses book launch to speak up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Playwright and author Emha Ainun Nadjib broke
\nhis own promise not to make public speeches when he turned up at
\nthe launching of his book on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Emha said that while the promise remained, he would break the
\n\"fast\" against public appearances when he felt obliged to.<\/p>\n
\"I am speaking today, for instance, as I must bear
\nresponsibility for my book,\" he said at the launching of Oples, a
\ncollection of his essays filled with social critiques, previously
\npublished in the now banned Detik tabloid.<\/p>\n
Emha, known for his sharp criticism against the authorities,
\nhas virtually sequestered himself from making public speeches, or
\nwriting articles in the media. He cited society's \"stagnant\"
\nsituation as one of the reasons for his withdrawal.<\/p>\n
Dismissing criticisms that he is after money and popularity,
\nEmha stressed than he wished to become a person who only acted if
\nhe had to, answering only to \"his Creator\".<\/p>\n
He added that he is seeking \"networks in new ways\" in what, he
\nsaid, is a situation not conducive to any hint of opposition.<\/p>\n
He said his new networks include involvement in regular
\negalitarian Koran reading sessions, which, he said, have grown
\nfrom 100 participants to almost 3,000 participants in his home
\ntown in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
To further stress his intent, Emha pointed to the cover of his
\nnew book, issued by the Mizan publisher, which features the
\ntraditional wayang (puppet) character of Togog, whose role is to
\nconstantly remind his masters against bad conduct.<\/p>\n
\"His mouth is tied, but he tied it himself, while his hands
\nand legs are free,\" Emha said. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/emha-uses-book-launch-to-speak-up-1447893297",
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