Officials join poetry reading at Monas park

Officials join poetry reading at Monas park

By Yoko N. Sari

JAKARTA (JP): The Chairil Anwar Plaza at Monumen Nasional
(Monas) Park looked different on Tuesday night. Hundreds of
chairs and several mats surrounded the statue of the famous
Indonesian poet, while dozens of public figures and poets sat
around the stage.

Hundreds of people were also sitting around the plaza to enjoy
a poetry reading there, most of them young people interested in
literature.

That night the plaza was turned into a stage for 30 people,
consisting of poets, ministers, businesspeople and other high-
ranking government officials, who participated to commemorate
Indonesia's independence anniversary.

No censorship, no restrictions, as all gathered together
freely to enjoy the occasion.

Prominent poets such as W.S. Rendra, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri,
and Taufiq Ismail shared the same stage with State Secretary
Moerdiono, Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten
Suweno, Attorney General Singgih and Chief of the Jakarta
Military Command Maj.Gen. Wiranto as well as noted businessmen
including Aburizal Bakrie, Tanri Abeng and Mooryati Sudibyo.

This year's event was the third-ever held, the first was in
1991 and the second in 1993.

"This event reflects our expression of joy and happiness as we
commemorate the 50th anniversary of our beloved republic.
Artists, ministers and businesspeople are here to celebrate
Independence Day and to honor the national heroes who fought for
our freedom," noted Syaukat Banjaransari, the festival's
organizer.

He brushed aside suggestions that the event was held as a
"reconciliation" of sorts between the artists and the
government," because there has never been any problem between the
government and the artists."

"The previous events have attested to the fact that both sides
can sit side by side in a friendly atmosphere." Most of the
artists are known to be vocal critics of the government's
policies.

"There is no censorship or restrictions on the contents of the
poems," Syaukat said, adding that the organizing committee had
prepared 85 poems as references for participants who had nothing
to read.

Taufiq Ismail hailed the activity, expressing hope that such
an event could create a better understanding on the part of the
government about literature.

Over the years many government officials have been putting
restrictions on the works of Indonesian artists, particularly
poets and playwrights. Performances of various plays and poetry
reading events are banned for their potential to spark social
unrest and disrupt national stability.

Therefore, it was somewhat surprising to see several
government officials share the stage with W.S. Rendra, regarded
by many as Indonesia's most celebrated poet and playwright and
whose works were banned in 1970s.

In the show, most of the poets read poems containing harsh
criticism of the establishment. They read poems lambasting the
government's high-handed policies ranging from turning paddy
fields into golf courses to the dominance of business
conglomerates over the economy at the expense of the little
people.

They also asked if we were indeed "free or not" now that the
republic is 50 years old.

The charismatic Rendra, nicknamed "The Peacock", read
Kesaksian Bapak Saijah, a poem telling of the fate a poor
peasant,the father of Saijah, whose neck was cut by Dutch
colonial rulers because he wanted to keep possession of his water
buffalo.

The audience gave a thundering applause to Minister/State
Secretary Moerdiono who read Orangtua, written by Husni
Djamaludin, a short poem describing the tyrannical acts of many
parents over their children.

Clad in jeans, Moerdiono stepped onto the stage, posed for
photographers and joked with the audience before reading the
poem.

Inten Suweno surprised everybody when she read Ketika
Kemerdekaan Berusia Setengah Abad by HS. Djurtatap, which asked
the authorities and the rich to think about the plight of the
poor and to do something to help them live a better life.

Deputy Governor for Social Affairs R.S. Museno opened the
event by reading Kepada Seorang Jenderal, a poem written by
Trisno Sumardjo.