TNI blamed for Aceh play ban

TNI blamed for Aceh play ban

JAKARTA: Playwright Ratna Sarumpaet blamed the Indonesian
Military (TNI) for the ban on her play that lampoons injustices
in Aceh, which was scheduled to air on state-owned television
station TVRI on Sunday.

She alleged that TNI's information office had asked TVRI not
to broadcast the play entitled Alia, Luka Serambi Mekah (Alia,
Wound on Veranda of Mecca).

Ratna did not elaborate on her accusation during a media
conference addressing the cancellation on Saturday.

"With the ban, we are directed to the regime of Soeharto,
where the military was powerful and democracy was dying," Ratna
said.

Pram, spokesman of Teater Satu Merah Panggung, which was
supposed to stage the performance, said TVRI had broken the
contract by not airing the play.

"The abrupt cancellation is odd," he said.

The theater was considering taking legal action against the
state TV station in light of the ban.

"The play is about Alia, the daughter of Acehnese figure Cut
Nyak. A rape victim of the conflict in Aceh, Alia stands for a
nonviolent 'moral rebellion'." --JP