TPN Ganjar Regrets Allegations Of Intimidation At The Butet Kertaradjasa Theater

Butet Kertadjasa/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the National Winning Team (TPN) of Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD pair Abdullah Mansur regretted the alleged intimidation carried out by the police against the theater stage of Butet artist Kertaradjasa and scriptwriter Agus Noor.

Abdullah said the intimidation had entered the realm of freedom of expression, especially in the art world, and freedom of expression itself already had clear signs in the law during the democratic era.

"If the police come in, intimidate, or ask not to do this, it should not be allowed before the event starts, especially before it is known what stage the stage is. I think it is very regrettable," Abdullah said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 5.

According to him, this can make the screenwriter feel disturbed by the presence of the police and will interfere with freedom of expression from the artist himself, which is clearly protected by law.

"Even though the culturalists of the artists are also not people who do not understand the rules. They understand that this talk is prohibited, this talk may be a sign that artists have understood artists, they are smart people. So there is no need to worry by the state apparatus, this is not the New Order era," Abdullah said.

In addition, he explained the arrival of vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD on the theater stage titled "Musuh Bebuyutan" on Friday (1/12) to fulfill the invitation to watch, not a campaign invitation. Abdullah also personally received an invitation to watch the stage.

"If that happens, then TPN regrets the police are intimidating," he said.

Quoted by ANTARA from Tempo.co news, theater artist Butet Kertaradjasa and scriptwriter Agus Noor are suspected of having been intimidated by the police while holding a theater stage filled with political satirical "Musuh Bebuyutan" at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta.

A number of Cikini Sector Police officers arrived before the show took place in the afternoon, asking the organizers to make a statement stating that contained no shows containing political elements.

The letter was signed by Butet Kartaredjasa on stampai. The letter contains the commitment of the person in charge of not campaigning for elections, distributing election campaign materials, using the attributes of political parties, using the attributes of presidential and vice presidential candidates, and other political activities.

"For us, it's intimidation," said Agus, Monday (4/12).

After signing the letter, the committee continued to hold a theater show entitled Musuh Bebuyutan within 150 minutes.