Figures declare propriety movement

YOGYAKARTA: A group of artists and leading figures campaigning for civil society declared on Saturday a movement to promote propriety in the society.

Among the signatories of the declaration were poets W.S. Rendra and Taufiq Ismail, musician Jockie Suryoprayogo, antigraft campaigners Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri and Teten Masduki, political analyst Eep Syaifullah Fatah, economist Faisal Basri and the host, Yogyakarta governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

"The participants of the movement intend to play a role and act as an agent of reform in the nation that is facing a slump," Hamengkubuwono said.

The movement, he added, was aimed at reminding the state, the business community and the public of uncivilized practices, which were prevailing in all sectors. Corruption, nepotism and collusion, which have continued unabated are largely a result of back-room deals among the three entities, the sultan said. -- JP