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Hard-Line Islamic group storms UGM student screening of 'Senyap'
Jakarta Globe - December 18, 2014
The group argued the film would only encourage members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) – which was banned by former president Suharto – to revive their movement.
Organizers received threatening text messages on the day of the screening but decided to stage the event as scheduled.
Members of Sintesa, a UGM press and publishing club responsible for bringing the movie to the Yogyakarta campus, had consulted the school's management and were given permission to continue the screening. The venue was moved to a classroom in anticipation of a raid.
As the first screening session came to an end at about 8:45 p.m., a mob of protestors shielding their faces with motorcycle helmets and masks rushed the campus and attempted to force attendants to leave.
Upon meeting resistance, one man, presumably the group's leader, began arguing with the students, saying the film promoted communism – a "known enemy of Islam" – and its return to Indonesia.
The university's vice dean stepped in to defuse the situation, suggesting everyone to leave after saying that the movie had already finished.
Both groups retreated, and no injuries were reported. Any additional screenings of the movie, locally known as "Senyap," have been canceled – much to the dismay and disappointment of UGM students.
"We condemn the film screening crackdown last night. It violates our right for freedom of speech as guaranteed by the constitution. It also violates academic freedom, denying students the right to freely discuss political and social issues," Sintesa leader Rani Eva Dewi said on Thursday.
Rani also expressed her disappointment with the police for doing nothing to prevent the campus raid.
The documentary has been screened multiple times since its premier to the public on Dec. 10 to commemorate Human Rights Day.
"The National Commission on Human Rights [Komnas HAM] has given its support for the film, so why did police allow such an intolerant group to violate our democratic freedom?" Rani added.
Arie Sujito, a lecturer for UGM's School of Social and Political Sciences and activist for Indonesia Movement, called Wednesday's incident an unjustifiable tragedy against democracy and vowed to file a complaint with Yogyakarta Police.
Ari Dwipayana, UGM expert on politics and government, said the raid only proved the local government, including its law enforcement, has failed to protect its people. Such a blatant show of intolerance will only mar Yogyakarta's reputation as a multicultural society, he added. "It is serious threat to academic freedom, tolerance and democracy," Adi said.
Saturday screenings of "The Look of Silence" at Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta and Indonesian Islamic University (UII) were also canceled due to threats made by anti-communist groups.
On Tuesday, a showing for the Independence Journalist Alliance (AJI) Yogyakarta was halted by police for fear of additional violent protests.
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