'The Peacock' still struts his stuff

'The Peacock' still struts his stuff

Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne

He may be 70, but the Peacock, as he is known, still draws
crowds, and what's more, he still delivers. And whether he is
reciting poetry or giving a lecture, he has not lost much of the
bite that rendered authorities in Indonesia hot under the collar
during the New Order era (late 1960s to 1998).

It was 13 years since Rendra's last performance in Australia.

And this time he was accompanied by his wife, actor and author
Ken Zuraida and fellow actor-musician Sawung Jabo. Rendra may
have mellowed since then, though not noticeably so.

He did show distinct mellowness when Zuraida joined him in the
poetry reading at Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of
Melbourne, on Sept. 28.

The space between them was quickly conflated by longing and
romantic energy when Rendra recited Sajak Joki Tobing untuk
Widuri (Joki Tobing's Poem for Widuri):

Against a background of cardboard huts / I recall your face /
In the dust of poverty / I stand facing you / Stroke my face
Widuri.

Zuraida replied with Sajak Widuri untuk Joki Tobing (Widuri's
Poem for Joki Tobing):

Dust clouds cloak the parking attendant's faces / Anger hangs
on deep in the ancient soul / The poor are against poverty / Hey
Joki Tobing I call you / because your face appears in my dreams /
Hey Joki Tobing I call you / because I'm caught up in your
breath.

To the audience's delight, Rendra did not follow a set
program, but kept surprising them with poems he delivered now
with passion, then with lightness and comic air. When he
performed Ada Tokek Rangkasbitung (The Gecko of Rangkasbitung)
the audience giggled with delight because most of them know the
poem, yet their enthusiasm in seeing it performed each time never
diminishes.

Then toward the end of the evening Rendra picked up Sajak
Kenalan Lamamu (Song of Your Old Friend), and the audience was
overcome with sadness tinged with nostalgia watching the
reminiscences of two old friends, now old and decrepit, one
obviously high and halfway to oblivion while the other depressed
and weighted down by remorse:

/ Politics helped us to take the world by storm / Politics
helped us get rid of the old, decadent forces, so we could rule
instead. / Politics has helped us get ahead: / from pedicabs to
taxis, from taxis to our own cars, / then sports cars and
helicopters!.

Where have the fireflies gone? / Why aren't my wooden sandals
outside the door? / The times are hard, / I look for my glasses /
and can't find them.

The delivery of the poetry was very much enhanced by the
impromptu accompaniment of Sawung Jabo's music that he created on
the spot and played by ear, so synchronized has their artistic
energy become.

When asked why it had taken him 13 years to finally return to
Australia, Rendra did not mince words. While conceding that he
had been too busy touring nationally, he revealed that he had
also been annoyed by Australia's prime minister John Howard's
show of disrespect toward Indonesia.

He talked publicly about what Australia would do as if
Indonesia didn't exist.

He unilaterally decided that Australia would not hesitate to
attack a foreign country if he believed there were terrorists
threats there.

Then he also unilaterally planned a restructure of the
maritime zone which infringed upon Indonesian waters, ostensibly
to protect Australia's security.

Hey, has he forgotten about us, about Indonesia? As you know,
for us Indonesians space has mystical significance. It is
personal. We treat it with respect. We excuse ourselves even if
we want to walk behind someone who is seated! To be frank, Howard
comes across as someone with very little diplomatic skills in
terms of international relations.'

Eventually those close to him persuaded him to come to
Australia again.

And here he is touring Australia, organized by Sydney's group,
Wot Cross-cultural Synergy until Oct. 22, where apart from poetry
reading and performances together with Zuraida and Jabo, he is
also giving lectures and conducting drama workshops.

Despite having been imprisoned repeatedly during the New Order
era, Rendra is never subdued or cowered. Having expressed his
misgivings about Australia's political leader, he said, "But I'm
happy here. In spite of the attitudes of their government,
Australians are very open-minded."

"That's why they are so well-liked in Indonesia. Wherever they
go they are treated with courtesy and warmth. That's what I'm
feeling now, not the disrespect shown by the government. You
know, I can see that in Australia, the government does not try to
control their people's minds and behavior."

"In reality, I detect a monitoring exercise from the
Indonesian foreign affairs department instead. They still try to
control what I am doing. Because I speak my mind, my meeting with
some communities have been canceled, for instance. I find this
rather suffocating."

How can one stop Rendra speak his mind? An exercise of
futility.