World's poets to perform here

JAKARTA (JP): An international poetry reading is slated to start tomorrow to Oct. 22 at the Graha Bakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta.

The five-day poetry reading, part of the second Istiqlal Festical, will see dozens of noted poets from 18 foreign countries, including Indonesia. The event will become the biggest poetry reading which ever been held in Indonesia.

Among the foreigner participants are Ahmed Al Bara Al Amin of Saudi Arabia, Mas Osman of Brunei Darrussalam, Akhalaq Mohammad Khan of India, Ayesha Abdullah Scott of England, Abdul Razak Abdul Wahid of Irak, Mohammad Eltohamy Sayed Ahmad of Egypt, Iftikhar Arif of Pakistan, Ghassan Kholil Zaktan of Palestine, Mohamed Latief Mohamed and Suratman Markasan of Singapore, Khalid Mohyidin Al-Barada'i of Syria, Ataol Behramoglu of Turkey, Abdullah Mohammed Radwan of Jordan, Samad Said, Azis bin Deraman, Kemala, Muhammad Haji Saleh, Siti Zainon Ismail, Rizi and Zaiton Jamain of Malaysia.

Indonesia alone will feature 25 poets, including Mustofa Bisri, Abdul Hadi WM, Acep Zamzam Noor, Agus Sardjono, Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda, BY Tan, Zawawi Imron, Goenawan Mohammad, Gus TF, Hamid Jabbar, Husni Jamaluddin, Ikranagara, Leon Agusta, Rayani Sriwidodo, Rendra, Sapardi Djoko Damono, Sitok Srengenge, Slamet Sukirnanto, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Taufik Ismail, Toety Heraty and Warih Wisatsana.

The poetry reading is combined with seminar on Islamic poem and publication of poetry anthology of world Moslem poets. The anthology will be published in English, Arab and Indonesian languages. (29)