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.