Guess What? Farouk Afero

Ex-boxer Farouk Afero is doing his best to support the reform movement.

No, the 59-year-old is not going to return to the professional boxing ring. But the national film award winner is doing more than his share to save the disintegrating national film industry.

With 16 friends from the movie and TV industry, Farouk has called upon Indonesian movie and TV artists to register themselves to a new party.

"This, if nothing else, will bring a sense of solidarity among artists," he said of the party which would aim to protect the rights of national artists.

Movie critics call it more of a lame, much-publicized try at bringing ex-members of the Indonesian Film Artists Union (Parfi) and the Nusantara Artists Association (Gan) to promote the flailing movie industry. Farouk denied this.

Among others, he said, "there is the historical significance of Parfi which has to be upheld. Members of Parfi fought for artists during the times of communism," Farouk said.

Artists wishing to register in the new party can do so at the Parfi office on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, from June 8 to July 1. A party congress to discuss the betterment of the national movie industry will be held on July 8.

Among those registering are Dangdut queen Camelia Malik and actors Gusti Randa, Deddy Mizwar, Roy Marten, Sys NS, Ahmad Fuadi, Mark Sungkar, Yati Octavia and Nazar Amir. (ylt)