Islamic fundamentalists in Java target puppet statues
by Mathias Hariyadi
Gangs of Islamic fundamentalist protesters in Purwakarta destroy three statues representing characters of local widely popular puppet theatre, on the grounds that the personages are “non Islamic”. Similar protests were seen last year against the statue of a well loved puppet character, called Bima, and a work of art produced by a famous Indonesian artist, representing three young women.
Purwakarta (AsiaNews) – Yesterday several Islamic groups and students of local Islamic schools staged protests in Purwakarta, a mainly Muslim town situated about 100km east of Jakarta. The protests culminated with the destruction of three large statues, described by the demonstrators as "non Islamic material”. However the protests were directed mainly against Purwakarta's district chief, Dedi Mulyadi, frequently criticised by these same groups who accuse him of encouraging a 'non Islamic' atmosphere in the town.
The personages represented by the statues were Gatotkaca, Bima and Semar. The statue of another theatre character, Arjuna, was almost destroyed by demonstrators but security and police forces arrived in time to prevent the act of vandalism. The four most popular puppet personages Gatotkaca, Bima, Semar and Arjuna, are simply theatre characters, in real life they do not exist. This popularity is due to the fact that most people in Java, indeed most Indonesians, greatly enjoy puppet theatre known in the local language as “Wayang".
Puppet theatre here is rich in tradition with dozens of characters, a puppet master called “dalang”, music, humour and philosophical reflection.
Actually Wayang is an encounter between Hindu culture and Java culture; the stories come from Mahabarata and Ramayana, epic Hindu cycles present in Indonesia since the 7th century. Local Islamic fundamentalists see this atmosphere as 'non Muslim', and so they attack the statues of leading puppet theatre characters.
Yesterday's incident was not the first of this nature: last year a statue of Bima was almost totally destroyed by members of the Indonesia Islamic Forum (FUI). The leader of FUI Purwakarta criticised the presence of Bima and blamed distric chief Dedi Mulyadi for allowing it to be made. Similar protests were staged last year in Bekasi against a 17mt high statue known as “Tiga Mojang”, the Three Young Women, produced by an important Indonesian artist. The Islamic fundamentalists protested that the artist had rendered the characters' clothing too adherent.
The personages represented by the statues were Gatotkaca, Bima and Semar. The statue of another theatre character, Arjuna, was almost destroyed by demonstrators but security and police forces arrived in time to prevent the act of vandalism. The four most popular puppet personages Gatotkaca, Bima, Semar and Arjuna, are simply theatre characters, in real life they do not exist. This popularity is due to the fact that most people in Java, indeed most Indonesians, greatly enjoy puppet theatre known in the local language as “Wayang".
Puppet theatre here is rich in tradition with dozens of characters, a puppet master called “dalang”, music, humour and philosophical reflection.
Actually Wayang is an encounter between Hindu culture and Java culture; the stories come from Mahabarata and Ramayana, epic Hindu cycles present in Indonesia since the 7th century. Local Islamic fundamentalists see this atmosphere as 'non Muslim', and so they attack the statues of leading puppet theatre characters.
Yesterday's incident was not the first of this nature: last year a statue of Bima was almost totally destroyed by members of the Indonesia Islamic Forum (FUI). The leader of FUI Purwakarta criticised the presence of Bima and blamed distric chief Dedi Mulyadi for allowing it to be made. Similar protests were staged last year in Bekasi against a 17mt high statue known as “Tiga Mojang”, the Three Young Women, produced by an important Indonesian artist. The Islamic fundamentalists protested that the artist had rendered the characters' clothing too adherent.
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