Play about pedophilia attracts hundreds

Alit Kertarahardja ,  Contributor ,  Buleleng   |  Thu, 03/05/2009 1:50 PM  |  Lifestyle

A play about pedophiles in Bali, performed at the city park in Singaraja on Saturday, drew huge crowds.

The play, titled Pale Moon for Dear Nyoman, is a contemporary piece chronicling the life of a poor couple living in an arid land, whose children have been victimized by pedophiles.

It is based on a TV show called Pale Moon in Mount Agung. The play ends with the villagers realizing that the foreign social worker living in the village has been molesting the local children.

"We're so happy that this contemporary play has managed to strike a chord, which was clear from the number of audience members who stayed to watch until the end of the play," Wayan Silur, who directed the play, said after Saturday's performance.

Buleleng is infamous for having a large number of pedophilia cases involving both foreign nationals and locals.

Among the known foreign pedophiles who were arrested and prosecuted are Mario Mannara from Italy, Michel Rene Heller from France, Max de Clarko from the Netherlands, Martial Juegler from France, and the recently convicted Phillip Robert Grandfield from Australia, who was sentenced to eight years in prison.

As for Indonesian offenders, a teacher from a school in Julah village in Tejakula district named Safruddin was recently sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually harassing a minor.

CASA (Committee Against Sexual Abuse) further noted that there are between at least five and 10 pedophiles still walking free in the regency.

The play, which features 35 performers, is a collaboration between CASA, Silur, who is the head of Sanggar Bali Ambengan, an art performance troupe and the Singaraja IHDN (Hindu Dharma State Institute).

"We felt challenged to make a play with a theme of violence against children, because the victims are only children," Silur said.

"As artists, we felt that we have to support this activity because the children are also our responsibility."

The play seemed to have captivated the audience easily, with many of them visibly drying their tears at the end of the play.

"We didn't want to make the story too heavy because we were afraid that there will be families with children coming to watch who won't understand," said Budiarta, assistant director of the play.

"But looking at the number of audience members and the responses we've received, it looks like the play really struck a chord."

The play, which Silur said was designed to campaign for the need to protect children, has been scheduled to tour several districts in Buleleng regency.

"After the city park *performance*, we will take this play to other districts," Silur said. "But if a regency wants us to perform, we're more than happy to."

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