"I am shocked about the detention. Ratna Sarumpaet made such a strong impression on me. She is a very prominent and instructive writer. Her play made such a strong impact on me", says Cecilia Sidenbladh.

Swedish Pen, International Pen and ITI, The international Theater Institute, have written letters demanding her immediate release.

Ratna Sarumpaet (actress and playwright) is a leading activist with the SIAGA group that supports the outspoken Muslim leader Amien Rais and ousted minority party leader, Megawati Sukarnoputri. A group of activists tried to surround Sarumpaet, escorting her to a car after she gave a pro-democracy speech, and police detained all those around her in a scuffle.

The meeting was attended by about 150 persons including foreign diplomats.

It was called the People's General Assembly in opposition to the official People's Consultative Assembly - MPR - that elected Suharto.

"After a short oration by Ratna Sarumpaet and singing of the national anthem, we declared that we would disperse and when we left the pavilion, the security forces attacked and took us away," said Tigor, one of the persons arrested.

According to the Alliance of Independent Journalists and the Jakarta Artists Solidarity Group, on 2 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 theater 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 organizers, 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 previously. In addition, according to the License Regulations as outlined by the government, arts performances do not require a license.

Urgent Action!

Please fax/telegram letters; in Bahasa Indonesia, English, or your own language, urging that:

1. That the nine persons be released immediately and unconditionally since they are being detained only for expressing their political beliefs peacefully.
2. That the charges against them be withdrawn.

Please send your appeals immediately to:

1. Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police station where they are currently being detained and interrogated:

Brig. Gen. Hamaminata
[Salutation: Dear Brig. Gen. Hamaminata]
Polda Central Jakarta (Metropolitan Police)
Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 45,
Jakarta.

For further information, contact Andreas Harsono at ISAI, Jl.
Utan Kayu 68-H, Jakarta 13120, Indonesia, Tel: +62 21 857 3388,
Fax: +62 21 857 3387, e-mail: harsono@nation.nationgroup.com

Or contact AJI, JI. PAM Baru Raya 16, Pejompongan, Jakarta,
Indonesia, tel/fax: +62 21 572 7018,
e-mail:jurnalis@idola.net.id