Semanggi tragedy goes commercial

Semanggi tragedy goes commercial

JAKARTA: A documentary on the shootings of rallying students in 1998, known as the Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies, will be shown at Group 21 film theaters here next week.

The 43-minute film titled Tragedi Jakarta 1998, which recorded the students' struggle in forcing down authoritarian ruler Soeharto -- who later stepped down on May 1998, is scheduled to enter the cineplex on Nov. 13.

"It is a remainder of the tragedy. The documentary will be played at the 21 theaters along with other imported movies," the producer Tino Saroenggalo told reporters on Saturday.

The documentary has been shown on campuses since 1998 and had recently won an award at the 47th Asia Pacific Film Festival in Seoul, South Korea. It had also been played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the International Youth Meeting in Mexico, Highgate Film Festival and Oberhausrne Film Festival in Germany.

Tino admitted the documentary focuses only on the student movement and their response to the violent approach of the government toward demonstrations against state policies. -- Antara