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'G30S/PKI' film not suitable for children: Education minister

Jakarta Post - September 28, 2017

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Jakarta – Culture and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy has prohibited elementary and junior high school students from watching Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (Betrayal of the Communists), saying the film contains violent scenes and is thus not suitable for young children.

"Elementary and junior high school [students] should not watch it," Muhadjir said on Wednesday in Padang, West Sumatra, as quoted by Tempo.co.

The award-winning film, directed by Arifin C. Noer and released in 1984, portrays the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) as a violent organization and communists as godless savages who mutilated military officers in a frenzy.

The docudrama is widely seen by historians as a propaganda film that contains historical inaccuracies.

"There is already a sign saying it can only be viewed by adults. Even in the past, the film was aired after 10 p.m," Muhadjir said, adding that senior high school students were allowed to watch it.

The minister further warned that he would impose sanctions on any education agency head that obliged elementary and junior high school students to watch the movie.

The G30S/PKI has been screened in many locations following Military Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo's Sept. 17 internal memo that instructed its personnel to screen the film as a way of giving the younger generation a history lesson.

Earlier, the Padang Culture and Education Agency issued a circular calling for elementary and junior high schools in the city to screen the movie on Sept. 30, the anniversary of the failed coup.

"Yes, the circular is aimed at elementary and junior high school students, but they should be accompanied by their parents," said Padang education agency head Barlius. (saf/ary)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/28/g30spki-film-not-suitable-for-children-education-minister.html.