Bandung artists set out to fight prejudice

JAKARTA (JP): Bandung artists are doing their part in helping to patch up strained race relations. To help raise awareness about victims of the May riots, most of whom were Chinese- Indonesians, they are scheduling performances at Festival Ganesha '98 today.

The event at Jl. Ganesha, Bandung, starts at 3:15 p.m. and features Sundanese arts led by artist Aida Liem.

Yesterday's schedule included the barongsay, the performance of a dragon-like creature which originated from China. Every year, local governments banned lavish Chinese New Year's celebration and consequently barongsay, which used to highlight the festival.

But in several areas barongsay is a traditional feature of sea-offering ceremonies and used to wake up people for the dawn breakfast during the Moslem holy month of Ramadhan.

Organizers, including ethnomusicologist Endo Suanda and installation artist Herry Dim, say the blurred origins of these arts were proof that ordinary "natives" and "non-natives" (Chinese-Indonesians) had share close cultural ties close for a long time.

They blamed past "political engineering" for contributing to the social gap which in turn easily flared the May riots.

In a letter made available here, Herry said the event was organized with the Indonesian Youth Committee for Eradication of Racial Discrimination. (anr)