Emha uses book launch to speak up

JAKARTA (JP): Playwright and author Emha Ainun Nadjib broke his own promise not to make public speeches when he turned up at the launching of his book on Thursday night.

Emha said that while the promise remained, he would break the "fast" against public appearances when he felt obliged to.

"I am speaking today, for instance, as I must bear responsibility for my book," he said at the launching of Oples, a collection of his essays filled with social critiques, previously published in the now banned Detik tabloid.

Emha, known for his sharp criticism against the authorities, has virtually sequestered himself from making public speeches, or writing articles in the media. He cited society's "stagnant" situation as one of the reasons for his withdrawal.

Dismissing criticisms that he is after money and popularity, Emha stressed than he wished to become a person who only acted if he had to, answering only to "his Creator".

He added that he is seeking "networks in new ways" in what, he said, is a situation not conducive to any hint of opposition.

He said his new networks include involvement in regular egalitarian Koran reading sessions, which, he said, have grown from 100 participants to almost 3,000 participants in his home town in Yogyakarta.

To further stress his intent, Emha pointed to the cover of his new book, issued by the Mizan publisher, which features the traditional wayang (puppet) character of Togog, whose role is to constantly remind his masters against bad conduct.

"His mouth is tied, but he tied it himself, while his hands and legs are free," Emha said. (anr)