Song lyrics land musician in hot water
Song lyrics land musician in hot water
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police will soon summon well-known
musician Harry Roesli for questioning for allegedly inciting
hatred against the state and ridiculing the state emblem and the
nation's philosophical foundation, an officer said on Wednesday.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said he did
not know when the summons would be issued, but that it "would be
as soon as possible".
Harry sung a satirized version of Garuda Pancasila during the
commemoration of the Aug. 17 Independence Day held at the
residence of former president Abdurrahman Wahid in Ciganjur,
South Jakarta.
Anton also said the summons was made following a police
preliminary investigation into his version of the song.
"We found indications that he had tried to bring the state
emblem, the Garuda (a mythical bird), and the Pancasila state
philosophy into ridicule. All of us should maintain respect (for
these symbols)," Anton said.
"If we want to uphold the supremacy of the law, Harry has to
be questioned so that other (artists) will not follow his
example, and despise our state emblem."
Anton remarked that police were considering laying charges
against Harry, saying that the 50-year-old musician was suspected
of having violated Article 154 of the Criminal Code on expressing
hatred and hostility toward the Indonesian government, which
carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment or a Rp
4,500 fine.
The Bandung-based musician is popularly known as a critic and
innovative musician whose experimental music accompanies lyrics
which criticize the government and comment on society.
On Wednesday, however, the Kompas daily published an apology
from Harry to the family of Sudharnoto, the composer of Garuda
Pancasila, for singing the revised version of it in public, as
well as a public apology for those he offended with the revamped
lyrics.
Harry said he had learned the satirized version of the song
from some street singers in Bandung, who often sing it on public
buses.
In his updated version of the song, Harry said he was tired of
Pancasila as there was no improvement to the people's social
welfare. (emf)