Gudang Garam and Deep Purple

Gudang Garam and Deep Purple

Since I came to Indonesia 13 years ago I have been confronted
with a lot of interesting stories, some were beautiful, some were
sad and some were funny.

This story, which I experienced on the event of the Deep
Purple concert in Jakarta on April 30, I would like to share with
the readers of The Jakarta Post.

When I entered the Jakarta Convention Hall to show my ticket
for the Deep Purple Concert several policemen stopped me and
asked me to hand over my cigarettes to them and to put my
cigarettes in a big carton box containing other confiscated
cigarette boxes.

When I asked why I should put my cigarettes into the box, the
answer was I was not allowed to smoke within the building. So I
told the policemen that I would follow this instruction, but
there was no reason to take away my cigarettes. However the
policemen refused to allow me to enter the concert hall unless I
handed my cigarettes to them.

I didn't understand this kind of logic but I followed their
instructions. When I entered the concert hall, after five meters
a bunch of very pretty ladies, dressed in red, welcomed me and
gave me a small bag as a welcome gift. When I opened the bag I
found some stickers of Deep Purple, a lighter and to my great
surprise, a full box of Gudang Garam cigarettes! These bags have
been given to every visitor of the concert. You can imagine my
surprise which was shared with my anger.

Now, I would like to know from the sponsor Gudang Garam of
this concert or from the police, what was the reason behind the
police actions in confiscating, I don't want to say stealing, my
expensive German cigarettes?

WERNER SCHWEBIG

Jakarta