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