APSN | Jakarta Police ban discussion of 1965 drama

Home > South-East Asia >> Indonesia

Jakarta Police ban discussion of 1965 drama

Jakarta Post - December 8, 2015

Jakarta Art Council: '1965' drama will go on despite police ban – Jakarta Globe. December 8, 2015
In shadows of propaganda and complicity, truth about 1965 massacre still glows – Jakarta Globe. December 7, 2015
Indonesia's 1965 massacres on trial in The Hague – Red Flag. December 5, 2015
50 years ago today, American diplomats endorsed mass killings in Indonesia – Washington Post. December 2, 2015
PKS politician wants 'traitors' at IPT 1965 to be prosecuted – Jakarta Globe. November 22, 2015

Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have banned a reading and discussion of a drama script titled "Family Album: #50years1965" at the Jakarta Theater Festival (FTJ) that was scheduled to take place at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.

The police said they issued the prohibition because of fears of trouble from opponents of the event.

Letter No. B/19811/XII/2015/Datro states that the police refused to issue a permit as a result of pressure from a group calling itself the Jakarta Theater Family Who Cares for the Jakarta Theater Festival, which had previously informed the police about its plans to hold a rally in protest at the event.

FTJ project officer Malhamang Zamzam questioned the ban, saying such a move was difficult to understand. "It's weird because street rallies are common and we also have right to free speech. If the event fails because of the rally, that's OK. But if it's a result of a prohibition, I can't understand that," said Zamzam as quoted by Tempo.co on Tuesday.

According to Zamzam, there might have been some fear among the opponents who considered the drama script to relate to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), while in fact the activity would only be a historical drama script-writing workshop that referred to archives or studies, led by 10 scriptwriters.

"It's only a theme about humanity. This is 50 years since 1965, indeed the National Commission on Human Rights [Komnas HAM] also raises the issue everywhere," said Zamzam.

Zamzam claimed that the opposition group comprised long standing members of the FTJ who felt a particular ownership of the FTJ and thus believed that the FTJ should not become embroiled in sensitive issues. "There is no relation with the PKI. Just read the script, we will distribute it later," Zamzam asserted.

This marks the first prohibition of an art or literature event in TIM. The Jakarta Arts Council was scheduled to hold a press conference regarding the prohibition on Tuesday afternoon. (afr/bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/08/jakarta-police-ban-discussion-1965-drama.html.