Festival to oppose Borobudur Int'l Festival

Festival to oppose Borobudur Int'l Festival

YOGYAKARTA: The Borobudur International Festival kicks off
today and but will face competition in the form of an alternative
festival being organized by people living i the foothills of the
five mountains located in the vicinity of Borobudur Temple.

People living near and on the slopes of Mount Merapi, Mount
Merbabu, Mount Sumbing, Mount Andong and Mount Menoreh are set to
hold the Five Mountains Festival at Warangan village at the foot
of Mount Merbabu on June 15.

Artists and activists had earlier said they would also stage a
"Borobudur Alternative" at the Langgeng gallery and studio in
Magelang, Central Java, as well as the Kampong Festival in the
Borobudur Temple parking lot from June 12 to June 27.

The Five Mountains Festival will be marked by a wayang suket
(straw puppet) performance by Ki Slamet Gundono, a speech on
cultural matters by activist Wardah Hafidz, and performances by
50 foreign participants.

The Borobudur International Festival is being opposed by
artists, cultural activists and locals. It will be officially
opened by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on June 14. The
opening ceremony will include a performance by the Kinarya GSP
dance troupe, directed by the president's brother, Guruh
Soekarnoputra. -- JP