'Teater Buruh' to continue suit against official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A labor theater group insisted yesterday in
\ncontinuing its lawsuit against a City administration senior
\nofficial for banning a play last month, although the official
\nsaid that it is litigating the wrong person.<\/p>\n
Teater Buruh Indonesia told the Jakarta State Administrative
\nCourt that Bagus Suharyono, chief of the City's Directorate of
\nSocial and Political Affairs, was the person responsible for the
\nban because he refused to issue his recommendation upon which the
\npolice permit for the performance hinged.<\/p>\n
\"Because of his refusal, the police did not issue the permit,\"
\nPardomuan Simanjuntak, the lawyer representing the theater group,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Pardomuan referred to a May 15 letter, number 360\/078.6,
\naddressed to the theater group and signed by Suharyono, which
\ndenied the group's application for his recommendation.<\/p>\n
According to the letter, presented in court as evidence,
\nSuharyono refused to give his recommendation for the play on the
\ngrounds that it could spark social unrest.<\/p>\n
He also stated his objection to the use of the word buruh
\n(labor) in the play's dialog because the term was used by the now
\noutlawed Indonesian Communist Party.<\/p>\n
The government has insisted on the use of the word pekerja
\n(workers) instead of buruh.<\/p>\n
In his letter, Suharyono also revoked letters of
\nrecommendation which the theater group had secured from the City
\nOffice of Cultural Affairs and the City Tourism Office.<\/p>\n
Cancellation<\/p>\n
The theater group is filing a lawsuit against Suharyono for
\nhis action that led to the cancellation of the play entitled
\nSenandung Terpuruk dari Tembok Pabrik (Miserable Symphony from
\nbehind the Factory Walls) at Taman Ismail Marzuki last month.<\/p>\n
The play describes the misery of highly exploited, low-paid
\nIndonesian workers.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the court to revoke the letter and order the
\ndefendant to give the recommendation for the play's performance,\"
\nPardomuan said.<\/p>\n
The lawyer contested the defendant's argument that the play
\ncould spark social unrest, and also questioned the legal basis of
\nhis objection to the use of the word buruh.<\/p>\n
In his defense statement last week Suharyono said that the
\nplaintiff was suing the wrong official because the final decision
\nnot to issue the permit for the play did not rest in his hand.<\/p>\n
He said that the letter he signed was merely stating the
\nresult of a coordinating meeting with other government agencies
\non whether to give the necessary recommendation. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/teater-buruh-to-continue-suit-against-official-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}