Censor board defers decision on `True Lies'

Censor board defers decision on `True Lies'

JAKARTA (JP): The Film Censorship Board (BSF) has deferred its
decision on whether or not to stop the public screening of the
action-comedy film True Lies until Saturday.

A plenary meeting of the board's 45 members yesterday,
convened to review the film's status, failed to reach any
decision after five hours of deliberations with board officials,
saying that further discussion was needed before a final decision
could be made.

The film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, has already passed
the censors and has been showing in movie houses across Indonesia
for the last two weeks. The board convened yesterday's special
meeting to review the film once again in view of an appeal by the
Indonesian Ulemas Council to withdraw the film.

Director General of Radio and Television Alex Leo Zulkarnain,
who sits on the censor board, announced after the session that
the board considered the ulema council's appeal, but that other
issues must be considered as well.

"There are a lot of aspects to talk about. By law, a film can
be banned if it creates instability and unrest," Alex said.

Talk of a possible ban has led to the film, rated by critics
as mediocre, playing to full houses.

The film depicts an American hero, played by Schwarzenegger,
foiling a sabotage on the United States by a Middle East
terrorist group called Crimson Jihad.

Jihad is Arabic for true fighter, a term often used to
describe those who fight for the cause of Islam. This usage has
upset a number of Moslem leaders in Indonesia.

The Moslem leaders however are not united on the issue and
some deplored their peers for fanning the controversy and giving
the film free publicity.

Controversy

The MUI in its appeal to ban the film refrained from stating
that it was an affront to Islam but said that the movie should be
withdrawn because of the public controversy it has generated.

Alex yesterday refused to comment on the MUI's position.

Two MUI members who sit in the censorship board were not among
the 28 of the 45 members who attended the meeting.

"We don't have any comment on MUI's statement. Everyone is
entitled to his own opinion, and we will pay attention to it,"
Alex said.

The MUI showed its muscle early this year when it pressured
the censorship board into banning the Oscar-winning film
Schindler's List because many Moslem leaders in Indonesia called
it Zionist propaganda.

The board eventually banned the film on the grounds that it
contained too much nudity and violence. (par) Editorial -- Page 4