Yunus surprised by ban of Butet's monolog VCD<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus was taken
\naback on Wednesday by a ban imposed on a filmed monolog of
\nacclaimed impersonator Butet Kertaredjasa.<\/p>\n
Yunus, speaking before attending a Cabinet meeting on people's
\nwelfare at the Bina Graha presidential office, said he had yet to
\nreceive the report on the decision of the Film Censorship
\nInstitute (LSF).<\/p>\n
\"There has just been a reshuffle of LSF's executives, (but)
\nthe report took me by surprise,\" Yunus said. \"This is perhaps the
\nfirst (censorship) case to occur during my term in office.\"<\/p>\n
In its letter dated July 28, 1999, the LSF chairman, Soekarno,
\nsaid the censorship body banned the distribution of video compact
\ndiscs of the monolog, titled King of the Jungle Turned Custodian
\n(Raja Rimba Jadi Pawang), on the grounds that they \"could weaken
\nnational resilience and\/or damage national interests\".<\/p>\n
More than a half of the monolog, based on a script composed by
\nIndra Tranggono, contains criticism intended to discredit a
\ncertain person or group, the LSF said.<\/p>\n
Yunus speculated that the institute banned the monolog because
\nit considered it violated the Criminal Code. \"If this happens,
\nit's the police which is supposed to deal with the matter.\"<\/p>\n
The minister, known as a staunch champion of press freedom,
\npromised he would seek an explanation from the body.<\/p>\n
The LSF is under the auspices of the Ministry of Information.
\nAccording to the 1992 Law on Film, the censorship body should
\nallow a disputed film to undergo reediting to reach compliance
\nwith its standards before resorting to a ban. The body is not
\nrequired to publicly announce banned movies.<\/p>\n
Filmmakers are allowed to appeal against a ban, the law said.<\/p>\n
Yunus claimed to know little about Butet, a son of respected
\nYogyakarta choreographer Bagong Kusudiardjo. He has gained fame
\nfor his skilled mimicry of the voices of former president
\nSoeharto and his successor B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Yunus laughed when he was told of Butet's skills.<\/p>\n
In many of his performances, Butet impersonated both Soeharto
\nand Habibie, but he has never been admonished or questioned by
\nthe police.<\/p>\n
Butet said the monolog was shown publicly several times. It
\nwas shot during a performance on May 15 at Duta Wacana Christian
\nUniversity in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The LSF twice requested the producer, PT Anugerah Damai
\nSejahtera, reedit the film to comply with its standards. A scene
\nof the military's dual role and the inclusion of the traditional
\nsong Angin Mamiri (Breeze) in a scene depicting the ouster of the
\nking of the jungle and the rise of a baby-faced tiger to the
\nthrone were cut at LSF's request, but the ban stood. The song is
\nfrom South Sulawesi, the birthplace of Habibie.<\/p>\n
Butet told The Jakarta Post recently he was not involved in
\nthe reediting process. (prb\/amd)<\/p>",
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