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)