**Updates IFEX alert of 20 Nroup, on 26 November 1997, police officers from both the local Surabaya and East Java regional forces banned the play “Marsinah Menggugat” (Marsinah Accuses) by Ratna Sarumpaet and the Satu Merah Panggung Theatre only three hours before the performance was due to begin. The play, dealing with the unresolved murder […]
**Updates IFEX alert of 20 Nroup, on 26
November 1997, police officers from both the local Surabaya and
East Java regional forces banned the play “Marsinah Menggugat”
(Marsinah Accuses) by Ratna Sarumpaet and the Satu Merah Panggung
Theatre only three hours before the performance was due to begin.
The play, dealing with the unresolved murder of Indonesian labour
activist Marsinah, was to be presented at the Cak Durasim
Building in Surabaya. The play had previously been performed
without hindrance in seven different cities.
Dozens of police descended on the theatre without warning, and in
an intimidating and heavy-handed manner ordered the Satu Merah
Panggung crew to cease their activities immediately, adding that
they would not be allowed to perform the play. The police
informed the Satu Merah Panggung members that they had not
obtained a license to perform the play. In actual fact, the event
organisers, Korps Putri Pergerakan Mahasiswa Islam Indonesia (The
Women’s section of the Indonesia Muslim Student Movement) had
obtained a license for the performance several weeks prior. In
addition, according to the License Regulations as outlined by the
government, arts performances do not require a license.
were found guilty of
attempted robbery and sentenced to four years in jail with six
strokes each. They have been out on bail pending the hearing of
the appeal against conviction.
For further information, contact Sam Mbure or Emily Nyanjugu at
NDIMA, PO Box 70147, Nairobi, Kenya, tel/fax: +254 154 41403, e-
mail: ndima@arcc.or.ke.,Internet:http://www.oneworld.org/ndima/.
