AJI Condemns Police for Not Protecting Pulau Buru Film Screening
17 March 2016 09:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) Jakarta has condemned Menteng Sector Police, Central Jakarta for their reluctance to ensure security for the screening of Pulau Buru Tanah Air Beta film, despite the plan to screen it behind closed doors at Goethe-Institute which often hosts art performances.
“Police had yet to order it to be cancelled, but it’s stance has showed its bias towards intolerant organizations,” said AJI Jakarta Chariman Ahmad Nurhasim in a release received by Tempo, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The stance is deemed to have threatened freedom of expression.
AJI said that the night before the screening, four members of Menteng Sector Police had came to Goethe-Institute to confirm if the screening of the film would be held. They claim that the screening would spark protest from Islamic societal organization. Whereas the organizing committee had already reported the screening event to the Sector Police on March 5.
Moreover, police had returned to Goethe-Institute Wednesday morning and informed that the societal organization who would stage a protest is Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). Due to the lack of guarantee from the police, Goethe-Institute had opted to cancel the screening. The organizing committee would only screen the film for limited audience at the office of the National Human Rights Commission.
Pulau Buru Tanah Air Beta documentary is made by Rahung Nasution. The film tells the story about Buru Island which was used as an exile for political prisoners after the 1965 incident.
Regarding the police’s stance, AJI has urged the government to take stern action against parties who have threatened freedom of expression. AJI has also urged the police to guarantee the implementation of freedom of expression. “We ask community members not to threat other citizens,” Ahmad said.
When being confirmed, FPI Chairman Ahmad Sobri Lubis said that he is not aware of the planned rally against the film. “Central [Leadership of FPI] did not receive the information,” Lubis said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN
