'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