Theater group's lawsuit dismissed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta State Administrative Court yesterday
\nturned down a lawsuit filed by the Indonesian Labor Theater Group
\nagainst a city official who banned the group from performing.<\/p>\n
\"The plaintiff's lawsuit can not be accepted because the
\nletter issued by the head of the city directorate of social and
\npolitical affairs is not a final decision,\" presiding Judge
\nBenyamin Mangkoedilaga said in his verdict, adding that only the
\ncity police have the authority to issue a stage permit.<\/p>\n
The theater group filed the lawsuit against Bagus Suharyono,
\nthe head of the city directorate of social and political affairs,
\nwhom they accuse of illegally slapping a ban on the performance
\nof their May 15 play at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The group had planned to perform a play entitled Senandung
\nTerpuruk dari Balik Tembok Pabrik (Miserable Symphony from behind
\nthe Factory Wall), which depicts the exploitation of Indonesian
\nworkers, especially factory workers.<\/p>\n
In his letter number 360\/078.6, Bagus refused to issue a
\nletter of recommendation needed by the group to obtain a stage
\npermit from the city police. He also revoked letters of
\nrecommendation from the city tourism office and the city office
\nof cultural affairs which had been obtained by the organizers to
\nstage the play.<\/p>\n
Bagus claimed the play would spark social unrest and that the
\nword buruh (laborer), which dates back to the communist era and
\nhas since given way to pekerja (worker), was unacceptable to the
\nNew Order.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's trial, Benyamin said that the
\nadministrative court would ignore Bagus' reasons for banning the
\nplay.<\/p>\n
Benyamin added that Bagus did not have the authority to revoke
\nthe letters of recommendation from the city's office of tourism
\nthe office of cultural affairs. \"The city directorate of social
\nand political affairs should have only submitted its
\nconsideration to the city police. It is the city police who can
\nissue the permit or ban the play.\"<\/p>\n
Members of the theater group began crying when the judge
\nfinished reading the verdict.<\/p>\n
The workers then reacted by unfurling a banner, singing and
\nreading poetry in front of the court and shouting: \"We must
\nmaintain worker solidarity. Give us freedom of expression.\"(29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/theater-groups-lawsuit-dismissed-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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