'Rendra speaks on killings in religious's name

'Rendra speaks on killings in religious's name

JAKARTA: Poet Rendra, 70, made a long poetic speech last Friday,
lamenting the national situation in which people disregarded
humanity.

"The second principle of Pancasila (the state's guiding
principles) says that the nation respects humanity in its just
and civil sense," said Rendra. "But the principle is proven
useless because we don't have legislation to strengthen it."

"And now, religious people have become butchers," he added.

Rendra was indirectly referring to the recent, religion-
related killing and conflict in the country.

The poet, who is well-known for his critical stance toward
social problems, was asked by city artists' institution Akademi
Jakarta to make a speech during a ceremony to bestow an annual
award for lifetime achievement to classical Javanese dancer and
choreographer Retno Maruti at Taman Ismail Marzuki on Friday
night.

He also criticized legislators who demanded a salary raise
while poor people were struggling for a decent meal after the
fuel price hike.

With a sometimes wavering voice, the veteran poet and theater
actor-cum-director presented a powerful argument, regardless of
his venerable age. -JP