Army asks Emha to perform

MAGELANG, Central Java: The Diponegoro Military Command is asking vocal poet Emha Ainun Najib to read some of his poems during the local celebration of the upcoming Armed Forces (ABRI) Day, the Antara news agency reported.

Diponegoro Command Chief Maj. Gen. Soeyono, described by the news agency as an ardent art lover, said he plans to invite Emha to discuss the plan.

Emha has been repeatedly banned from performing in various cities in Central Java over the past year because his poems and plays, which he choreographed, were deemed sensitive by the local police, which is also part of ABRI.

Soeyono said he would love to see Emha read some of his beautiful poems. On the question of censorship, he said he would leave the matter to his assistant on socio-political affairs. (emb)