Appendix 6 - International Music Council

MUSICAL DIVERSITY PROJECT -- INDONESIA.
15.
The complementarity or reciprocity between the protection of musical diversity and
that
of human rights
• Cite examples where music expression or music diversity have been repressed by direct
action
of government or action by others directed by government, or by others acting to
pre-empt direction by government.
In the New Order period (from 1965 to 1997), even though the diversity of music in
Indonesia was officially maintained, there were times in which repression from
government could happen especially when musician sang songs with critical views.
As a whole musicians and singers are free to express their ideas through music
performances, traditional, popular, classical, jazz, hybrid music, dangdut, ethnic
music, etc. However, musical performances were not totally free from political
domination because the government wanted that performances should follow their
regulations. So, the government assigned some people to observe performances with
potential critical views. Especially when the lyric criticized an important figures in
government offices the musician will be investigated (musical performances with no
words, or if the words were not understood clearly, would not get such irritating
surveillance, however). Tokohindonesia.com cited that Iwan Fals, a singer musician
who was thought of as the representative of common people because of his critical
views on behalf of populace, was arrested when he sang a song telling the story that
according to government agency
associated with the life of important figures. Soon
after the performance he was arrested and put in jail. He was often banned to perform
in many regions in Indonesia due to his strong power to influence people’s idea and
movements. Iwan Fals is until now a well-known
singer musician who consistently
put his critical views about
political figures, social criticism, and the voice of the
common people in his songs. However, because the new government (established
only two years ago) wants to promote democracy in all aspects of life in Indonesia
there is less investigation upon such performances.
• In the countries where there is such repression of musical expression or diversity, are
there other notable breaches of human rights?
See the above examples.
16. The links between musical diversity and economic development and the fight against
poverty
• Cite examples of the use of music to assist in non-music economic development.
Music programs in television is now becoming “more visual” in the sense there is
hardly any music without dancers as background. There are many cases in which
visual image is more dominant than the sound of music itself. It is often that the dance
is not composed for the music rather it is for the sake of visual iamge. This image is
often not related to the music presented at that time. When we see the show it is as if
the music that acompanies the dance. This is perhaps the “rule” of the television
program that require visual presentation more rather than the auditive one. I believe
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