Fewer foreign artists perform here

Fewer foreign artists perform here

JAKARTA (JP): The number of foreign performing artists in the
city has decreased due to current political tension, Aminullah,
an executive of the City Political and Social Affairs office
said.

"Probably the foreign artists are afraid that the current
political tension would result in riots," Aminullah told
reporters at City Hall.

But he said there were fewer foreign artists here because
local companies could not afford them due to the high dollar rate
against the rupiah.

He said there were 100 foreign artists who conducted live
performances in the city in May, while in June, the number
decreased to 67.

"We have no complete data for this month, but we believe there
would be fewer artists here due to the upcoming special session
of the People's Consultative Assembly," Aminullah said.

He said 18 local companies were registered with his office
that brought in the artists, mostly from China.

Sixty artists who came here last month were from China, while
the remaining seven artists came from the Philippines, Taiwan,
Singapore, Hong Kong and United States, he said.

Aminullah said the number of local artists who were sent
abroad, especially to Japan, increased from 113 people in May to
147 people in June. They were sent by 22 companies.

A source said the so-called artists, mostly women, worked at
Japanese bars and karaoke singing halls. (jun)