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)