Military offers dialog with artists over art permits

Military offers dialog with artists over art permits

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday offered to hold an open dialog with the nation's artists in a bid to solve the lingering issue of permit requirements for art and cultural performances.

Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ma'ruf, ABRI's Chief of Social and Political Affairs, said on the opening day of the First National Arts Congress that past bannings and restrictions on cultural events showed that communication between the two parties was lacking.

"We don't always understand the content of an art performance. Maybe we aren't sensitive enough," Ma'ruf admitted. "We should meet and discuss the matter to eliminate our differences."

He asked for the artists' understanding that the government always treats any activity, including art and cultural performances, from a national security point of view.

He urged them to act wisely and pursue their art without creating upheavals and obscuring the nation's cultural values.

Ma'ruf stated that the government is now finalizing a new, clearer set of guidelines on permit requirements for gatherings and cultural performances. "Just wait until the new guidelines are ready," he said.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman last week said the new guidelines would be announced this month and would be in force in January.

It is expected that under the new regulation cultural performances will no longer be subject to official censorship.

The five-day congress, the first of its kind, was officially opened by Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro.

In his keynote address, he called on participants to share ideas, experiences and to bridge the disparity among artists.

Around 500 intellectuals, scholars, artists and government officials from 27 provinces are taking part in the Rp 1 billion congress. More than 100 papers are to be discussed in the congress at Kartika Chandra Hotel from Dec. 3 through Dec.7.

Papers discussed yesterday include Asrul Sani's The Function of Arts in the Community, Taufik Abdullah's Dialog between Two Worlds, and Umar Kayam's The Journey of Arts in Our Society.

Various art performances are also being staged in conjunction with the congress. Last night, Putu Wijaya's newest play Bor and Teater Koma's play Semar Gugat ran at Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center.

The first day of the meeting eased fears expressed earlier by artists that the congress would turn into a meeting of bureaucrats because of the heavy presence of officials among the delegations.

In fact, hundreds of prominent figures from the nation's art community were there. They included poet Taufiq Ismail, author Satyagraha Hoerip, art critic Jim Supangkat, musicians Franki Raden, Guruh Sukarno Putra, Endo Suanda, dance choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo, film directors Teguh Karya and Garin Nugroho and celebrities like Sofyan Ali and Astari Harun Al Rashid.

Nirwan Dewanto, a young promising poet, said the congress will be useful if it provides a forum for solving the most serious problem in the current art world -- the permits.

"It was the bannings that destroyed the creativity of local artists and the whole art world," Nirwan said.

Playwright Ratna Sarumpaet, whose works frequently fell victim to government bans, said the authority's attempt to silence artists' freedom of expression was so excessive that it was frustrating for artists. "I understand that this congress is organized by the government, but I hope the organizers will voice the interests of the artists," Ratna said.

Musician Franki Raden welcomed the government's gesture in organizing the congress. "There has never been such a congress in the 50 years of Indonesia's independence. It is a milestone to have been able to bring officials and artists together," Franki said. "We expect it will have good results." (raw)