Bandung artist afraid to die

Bandung artist afraid to die

BANDUNG: An artist hanged himself in public yesterday -- not
to commit suicide but to entertain the public and dramatize his
protest against an unpopular policy of the local government.

The scene was part of the more than 100 local artists' protest
of the city administration's plan to turn a cultural center
building into a tourism office.

Antara reported that the artists tied up a colleague and
hanged him on a tree on Jl. Naripan near the disputed building
during rush hour.

While the man swayed gently, with his feet 1.5 meters above
the ground, a group of artists encircled him and played musical
instruments.

The protest triggered traffic jams in nearby streets as
motorists slowed down for a glimpse of the action. Dozens of riot
police could not stop the hundreds of pedestrians from flocking
to the scene. (pan)