Political tension robs children of fun<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Children are the losers in the prolonged
\nbickering between the country's political elite and its ensuing
\nviolence, a cultural activist said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The director of the Jakarta Playhouse (GKJ), Farida Oetoyo,
\nwhile opening the second Indonesian Pearl Children's Art
\nFestival, said the current political tension and the threat of
\ndisintegration facing the nation robbed the country's children of
\nfun and peace.<\/p>\n
\"We must restore the happy and peaceful life that we have
\nunconsciously snatched from the children, as the tension and
\nviolence that are escalating in the country have forced them to
\ngrow up in fear,\" Farida said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
She said its concern for children inspired GKJ to hold the art
\nfestival, which will run through March 18.<\/p>\n
A children's rights activist, Arist Merdeka Sirait, estimated
\nthe number of children living in refugee camps across the country
\nat 150,000. The latest ethnic conflict in Central Kalimantan has
\nadded to this figure.<\/p>\n
The government is now dealing with over 800,000 refugees from
\nstrife-torn areas in Aceh, Kalimantan, East Timor and Maluku.<\/p>\n
Farida said the festival gave children's art groups the
\nopportunity to display their skills, adding that such groups were
\nseldom able to perform in public.<\/p>\n
The art festival, she added, also offered children the chance
\nsimply to enjoy themselves.<\/p>\n
Among the activities planned for the festival are a drawing
\ncontest, children's games, stories, art performances, an art
\nworkshop and a seminar on children's creative rights.<\/p>\n
Choirs from Strada St. Ignatius and Al Azhar elementary
\nschools and a number of children's art groups are participating
\nin the week-long festival. (amd)<\/p>",
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