Ban on performance deplored

Ban on performance deplored

JAKARTA (JP): A member of the City Council has questioned the
reason for the recent banning of a performance by the Padepokan
Teater Buruh Indonesia (Indonesian workers' theater group).

Djenni Suharso, a member of Commission A, which is in charge
of government affairs, told reporters on Tuesday that the reason
for the banning was groundless.

"The banning is illogical and difficult to understand because
one of the reasons is the use of the word buruh in the name of
the group, instead of pekerja (employee)," Djenny said.

"If they could perform at other places, why were they banned
here?" he asked.

According to the Directorate of Social and Politics' letter
No. 360/078.6 dated May 16, 1995, Padepokan Teater Buruh
Indonesia was forbidden from presenting a theatrical performance
entitled "Senandung Terpuruk dari Balik Tembok Pabrik" (A Song
behind a Factory Gate).

"The term buruh is no longer allowed to be used. It is not in
line with the official term of pekerja," said R. Bagus Suharyono,
head of the directorate.

"They can perform their show if they change their name as well
as the performance's theme," Bagus added.

He said that the theater group has to change the theme of the
play because it is feared that it will spark controversy and
unrest among the public. We do not want that kind of situation at
the moment, especially when we are going to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the independence of the nation.

Last Friday the theater group also reported the case to
National Commission on Human Rights.

The spokesperson of the group, Try Anjani, questioned the
legality of the banning.

Try said that the reason for banning the show was vague. The
authorities never explicitly explained the reasons why changes to
the name and the play must be made.

The group members insist that their performance was their
contribution towards the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of
Indonesia's Independence Day.

"We never had any intention of suppressing the workers'
creativity. We just want them to look ahead," Bagus said.

"We believe that they will later understand why we banned
their performance, not because of unreasonable reasons but due to
our good intentions," Bagus added. (31)