Guess What? Amien Rais

Guess What? Amien Rais

Amien Rais, a leading figure in the reform movement, did
something different at Purna Budaya Building in Yogyakarta on
Wednesday night. He did not make a speech or preach on the values
of Islam as usual. Instead, he read out poems.

Wearing a casual long-sleeved shirt and dark-colored trousers,
he read out the poems in a flat, clear voice, as though he was
orating or preaching.

"I'm sorry if the way I read poems is not as dramatic as
Butet," Amien said in apology before beginning his recital. He
was referring to Butet Kertarejasa, a noted actor in contemporary
theater who was present that night.

The event was entitled "They're Not Orating This Time" and it
lived up to its name despite the fact that many noted orators
were among those performing. Among voices more commonly
associated with scholarly and political rhetoric which could be
heard that night were those belonging to T.H. Sumartana, who is
studying for a doctorate in theology at the Satya Wacana
Christian University in Salatiga, and Darmanto Jatman, a
psychology lecturer at Diponegoro University in Semarang.

Amien read two poems that night, both of which were by noted
poet Taufik Ismail. One was entitled 12 Mei 1998 and another Bayi
Lahir Bulan Mei 1998 (A Baby Born in May 1998). The first was a
poem written in memory of four Trisakti University students who
died in an incident in May this year.

"I chose the two poems because both are short and the message
is clear. The poems remind me of the students' fight to make
Soeharto step down from the presidency. It was a very tense
time," Amien said. (swa)