`TVRI' to air controversial play `Alia'<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State-owned television station TVRI has reversed itself and will
\nair the controversial play Alia, Luka Serambi Mekah (Alia, Wounds
\non the Veranda of Mecca) on Jan. 19.<\/p>\n
But actress and activist Ratna Sarumpaet, who directed Alia,
\nregretted that the station waited so long to air the play about
\nhuman rights abuses in Aceh, saying it had already lost its
\nmomentum.<\/p>\n
The TV station unilaterally canceled its contract with Teater
\nSatu Merah Panggung to air the play on Dec. 10, 2002, in
\nconjunction with the International Human Rights Day. The
\nstation's decision reportedly came after a protest by the
\nIndonesian Military, which said the play could effect the peace
\nprocess in the country's westernmost province.<\/p>\n
Ratna said TVRI and Teater Satu Merah Panggung, which produced
\nAlia, came to an agreement to air the play on Jan. 19 after a
\nseries of meetings.<\/p>\n
TVRI broke the contract after the military read a manuscript
\nof the play. However, the military denies intervening in the TV
\nstation's internal affairs. The theater group has threatened to
\nsue the station over the cancellation of the contract.<\/p>\n
The play tells the story of the injustices in Aceh that
\naffect the life of Alia, a daughter of Aceh freedom fighter Cut
\nNyak Din.<\/p>\n
Alia's father invites her to join the fight for the
\nterritory's independence but she refuses to do so, saying the
\nAcehnese are fighting not only for independence but also for
\npeace.<\/p>\n
Alia was performed live a number of times in several cities,
\nincluding Jakarta, Semarang, Surakarta, Bandung, Tasikmalaya and
\nBanda Aceh, in 2000 and 2001.<\/p>\n
Despite the station's plan to air the play on Jan. 19, Ratna
\nagain threatened to file a lawsuit against TVRI if it further
\nviolated the contract.<\/p>\n
"I want TVRI to air the play in its entirety. I will only sue
\nif the TV station censors the script," she told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tvri-to-air-controversial-play-alia-1447893297",
"image": ""
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