Readings show spirit of independence

Readings show spirit of independence

By Yenni Kwok

JAKARTA (JP): Independence Day is more than a celebration of
freedom from foreign rule. For those with creative minds, it also
signifies freedom to express oneself.

As civil servants hoisted flags and neighborhood children vied
in sack races, artists chose to celebrate in their own style.
After all, is there anything more valuable to the motherland than
giving the best of one's talent?

The glory of independence was extolled in government sponsored
and independently organized poetry readings held around the city.

Jakarta Arts Council's annual tradition, Malam Renungan
Kemerdekaan (Freedom Contemplation Night), was held in Taman
Ismail Marzuki Arts Center, Central Jakarta, on the eve of
Independence Day.

A big red-and-white flag adorned the wall and a speaker's
podium was set up on stage. This, along with the packed audience
seated in chairs and cigarette smoke choking the air, created an
odd atmosphere more reminiscent of a political assembly than a
poetry reading.

Despite the authoritative decorations, the council was liberal
in its selection of performers. Renowned poets such as Taufik
Ismail and Danarto shared the stage with their juniors. Contents
ranged from romantic to critical pieces.

The night's main event was a lecture by poet Sapardi Djoko
Damono, who is also the dean of School of Letters at the
University of Indonesia.

Sapardi's lecture stressed the dynamism and the diversity of
Indonesian culture. He criticized fears that foreign cultural
influences would demolish Indonesian traditions.

"Humans create culture from something that has existed before,
at present and from outside cultures."

Malam Renungan Kemerdekaan kicked off with a series of
romantic literary pieces. Hamzad Rangkuti opened the night with
excerpts from his short story, Gunting Pita (Ribbon Cutting).

Gunting Pita is a tale of a forgotten heroine who had to pay
for her brave act of hiding the fighters with her body. Nobody
honors her sacrifice until a regent, formerly a freedom fighter
himself, seeks her whereabouts and invites her to the opening of
a veteran's building. Her heroism is finally recognized as she
gets the honor of cutting the ribbon.

Young poet Nanang R. Supriatin contributed the most
nationalistic poem of the night. In a solemn voice akin to a TVRI
news announcer, he read Kemerdekaan (Independence).

"Independence is people who work hard/Independence is not to
slave or be enslaved by other nations..." he read, concluding
that "independence is development in all fields, with the
guidance of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution."

Nevertheless, the event did not descend into a night of
serious messages. Taufik Ismail read an irreverent poem which
toyed with Indonesian's proverbs, including: "Nationalism/Stone
rains in other countries/Gold rains in own country/Better to be
in own country".

As the night crept into the late hours, critical voices rose.
In his Suara Yang Terpendam (The Buried Voice), poet Danarto
spoke on behalf of the poor and the weak. "Who could understand
the quiet kind, the silent poor?" he said.

Alternative

The next day, Pesta Rakyat (People's Festival) took place at
the Monumen Proklamasi (Proclamation Monument), where the
founding fathers declared the independence of Indonesia 52 years
ago.

A couple of poets who performed at Taman Ismail Marzuki the
night before also took part in Pesta Rakyat.

But no renowned poets read their pieces. No romantic nostalgia
of the fighting days. Indeed, it took an alternative path to
celebrate the Independence Day.

Organized by different theater groups and non-governmental
organizations, Pesta Rakyat staged poetry reading and short plays
riddled with social and political protests.

"We want to see that the Independence Day is more than a state
ceremony, where people are only spectators. We want people to
take part in the celebration," said Ratna Sarumpaet, the leader
of Satu Merah Panggung and the event organizer.

Taking the idea of a festival, two stages were set up. One
stage was poetry reading, led by poet Sitok Srengenge. Another
stage was a drama performance, led by Ratna.

Critical verse, known locally as "pamphlet" poetry for their
direct, caustic messages, dominated the poetry reading. Indeed,
the critical nature of Pesta Rakyat attracted a mostly young
audience and participants, who wandered around the monument under
close watch of police officers and security agents.

Suyani, of Fighting for Democracy National Committee, read
Wiji Tukul's Potret Negeri Ini (Portrait of This Country).

She said: "This country does not deserve/to be called
free/because in the parliament/people aren't free to talk/and
soldiers are free/to use the weapon."

Sometimes, artists even pushed the limit of the audience's
understanding. A group of young theater performers staged a
silent performance, full of symbolism but without a title.

A ruddy-faced man sat motionless in a giant plastic urn, his
eyes and mouth open, apparently dead. A group of men and women
chanted the text of the Independence Proclamation, occasionally
interrupted by exultations of Allahu Akbar (Allah is great). It
was as though they were conducting a tahlilan, the Islamic
religious gathering following a death.

The man suddenly rose from the pot. His body was covered in
red slime. He poured faded green, yellow and red paint onto the
weeping widow, a woman dressed in white.

What did it all symbolize? Was the red-faced man the symbol of
democracy? Did the weeping bride symbolize the people?
Ironically, none of the performers, said to be from ADP
Production, was willing to give the answers.

"Sorry, I have no right to talk," said one of the actors.

Historian Onghokham, poet-essayist Goenawan Mohamad and
actress-director Jajang C. Noer were spotted among the
predominantly young crowd. Other public figures, such as Mrs.
Rachmi Hatta, the widow of independence proclaimer M. Hatta,
Megawati Soekarnoputri and former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin,
had agreed to attend the event but later canceled their plans.

The first Pesta Rakyat was in 1995 and the content
was more overtly political. "There were many political speeches
and shouting," Ratna said.

Following negotiated with the police, this second Pesta Rakyat
ended earlier than the scheduled time. After Ratna read her poem
Doa (Prayer), written after she was detained for her mock-coffin
protest last May, and the flag-lowering ceremony with the
veterans, the crowd dispersed quietly.

Malam Renungan Kemerdekaan and Pesta Rakyat may be over, but
they proved the independence spirit will never vanish.