Play on missing people

JAKARTA (JP): A play highlighting human rights issues will be staged at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta to mark the International Week of Disappeared Persons which falls on Aug. 30.

Jointly held by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and Indonesian Arts Association (PSI), the play will be performed for three consecutive nights, from Aug. 6 to Aug. 8.

Titled Mengapa Kau Culik Anak Kami (Why Are You Kidnapping Our Children), the play is the work of Seno Gumira Ajidarma and will feature actors Niniek L. Karim and Landung Simatupang along with former abduction victim Nezar Patria as guest star.

Activist Nezar was among 25 people abducted by unidentified men beginning in April 1997. He was kidnapped by four men in March, 1998 along with another activist, Aan, from the apartment they shared. Nezar was found weeks later in Jakarta police detention.

"The play is intended to build solidarity among relatives of the victims and members of community coming from various professions and backgrounds, while at the same time, providing support for the association of missing persons' relatives who are still fighting to locate the whereabouts of their loved ones", a press release stated.

Funds raised from staging the play will be distributed to the victims' families.

For more information, please contact Kontras (021) 3145940, or Taman Ismail Marzuki (021) 334740 ext. 18.