VIDEO: Responses From Mahfud MD And The Police Regarding Allegations Of Intimidation To Butet Kertaredjasa And Agus Noor

VIDEO: Responses From Mahfud MD And The Police Regarding Allegations Of Intimidation To Butet Kertaredjasa And Agus Noor. (VOI Video graphics Team)

JAKARTA - Art is a way for us to express ourselves, art is a freedom and must not be limited. As allegedly experienced by artists Butet Kertaredjasa and Agus Noor who felt intervened when they were about to hold a show entitled Musuh Bebuyutan in Taman Ismail Marzuki.

The art ceremony lasted for 2 days, namely on December 1 and 2, 2023 and took place at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta. Butet and Agus felt intervened because they were asked to sign a statement containing not allowing political elements to appear during their performance. The Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Shandi Nugroho, also responded to the issue by asking the organizers of the show or parties who felt aggrieved to report, so that the report could be followed up immediately.

This issue also received responses from several public figures, such as the Spokesperson for the National Winning Team (TPN) Ganjar-Mahfud, Abdullah Mansur, who regretted the alleged intimidation carried out by the police against these artists. According to him, artists are smart people who understand the rules. They understand what is prohibited and what is allowed. Moreover, there is already a special law that regulates freedom of expression.

Candidate for Vice President with serial number 3, Mahfud MD also responded and regretted the alleged intimidation from the police, Mahfud said that art is universal and can be enjoyed by everyone and art activists should not experience such things. However, the police and the organizing committee, namely Kayan Production', have provided clarification, if there is no intimidation and intervention carried out by the police. This is purely only to take care of licensing documents. Watch the video below.