Blontank Poer, Surakarta – Artists, journalists and activists from non-governmental groups in Surakarta on Tuesday urged the police to guarantee freedom of expression in relation to art and journalistic works and to prevent anyone or any group from restricting them.
"Besides being guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution, many laws also regulate people's freedom in expressing their minds and ideas through various means," said People's Alliance for Freedom of Expression coordinator Kelik Ismunandar.
Kelik gave this statement after seven representatives from the alliance failed to meet Surakarta Regional Police chief Sr. Comr. Taufik Ansorie at Tuesday midday.
They arrived to protest because they thought the police had allowed intimidation to take place against the filming of Lastri by a group of people claiming to act on behalf of Muslims.
The representatives were only received by the commander of the guard post Adj. Comr. Setyo who told them that the police chief and his deputy were not available to meet them.
About 60 representatives from the arts, cultural and journalistic communities as well as activists met in Surakarta on Monday to protest against the alleged intimidation.
During the meeting, they came to the conclusion that the police had done nothing when a number of people threatened those on the set of the Lastri film, even when this continued during the meeting between the Colomadu district authorities, filmmaker Eros Djarot and members of Muslim groups, although the meeting on Nov. 15 was mediated by representatives of Karanganyar regency administration, the police and the military.
Threats against the production of the film have continued to be made without any action being taken by the authorities.
"The police should have secured the film set because it has a permit from the National Police Headquarters. The police cannot ignore the situation," said Abidin from the Social and Research Institute in Surakarta.
A number of groups, claiming to act in the name of Islam, blamed the film for allegedly condoning communism. Residents in Wedi village, Klaten regency, have also opposed filming being carried out in their area, giving similar reasons.
"Members of the hard-line groups have taken over the job and authority of the police. This is strange, because the police have allowed a group of people to walk over them," said Abidin.
A Surakarta artist, Titus, said the police had acted recklessly by apparently justifying the accusations of a number of hard-liners. He considered that had the film Lastri inspired communism, then the film would not have been approved by the film censor board, which also included representatives of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI).
"It's very strange, that they believe the film teaches communism without reading the storyline beforehand. That's the same as putting a person's imagination on trial," said Titus.
Eros preferred to avoid friction by relocating the set. "There's no point debating with those people. We will still finish the film," Eros told the Post.