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Gaga’s promoter given Monday deadline by police
Gaga protest: Muslim students shout slogans during a rally against U
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span class="inline inline-center">Gaga protest: Muslim students shout slogans during a rally against U.S. pop singer Lady Gaga's concert that is scheduled to be held on June 3, outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 25, 2012. Lady Gaga might have to cancel her sold-out show in Indonesia because police worry her sexy clothes and dance moves undermine Islamic values and will corrupt the country's youth. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)Jakarta Police say that Monday is the deadline for promoter Big Daddy Entertainment to complete documents required to obtain a permit for Lady Gaga’s concert.
“If they don’t fulfill [the required paperwork] by Monday, then we cannot issue the permit,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told reporters.
He explained that, according to his meeting with National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo, the promoter must submit all the necessary documents to the Jakarta Police at least seven days prior to the day of the concert, which is scheduled for June 3.
If the promoter manages to fulfill the requirements, the Jakarta Police will then issue a letter of recommendation for holding the concert to the National Police, which will have the final say on whether they will issue the concert’s permit or not.
“The National Police will then issue the permit three days prior to the event, at the latest,” he said on Saturday.
Rikwanto, who previously vowed that the Jakarta Police would not issue a permit for the concert because of safety concerns, dismissed speculation that a backdoor deal had taken place with Big Daddy Entertainment.
Speculation is rife that the police allegedly attempted to claim their stake in the country’s multi-billion rupiah concert by blackmailing Big Daddy Entertainment and used the situation to deter other concert promoters.
“There is no such deal,” Rikwanto said on Saturday when asked by The Jakarta Post why the police have been softening their stance on the concert’s permit over the last few days.
“In this case, the Jakarta Police will make a decision by looking at the pros and cons. We will then decide whether we would issue the concert permit or not,” he said.
Earning a permit from the police will be the last requirement that Big Daddy Entertainment must fulfill to ensure that Gaga can stage a show in Indonesia, as the promoter claimed that they have already obtained permits from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry as well as from the Law and Human Rights Ministry’s immigration office, which already issued a visa for the Grammy-winning singer.
A large fraction of Gaga’s fan base, dubbed “Little Monsters”, are believed to be residing in the country, with the US singer’s Twitter account being actively followed by many Indonesians.
Lady Gaga’s Jakarta concert, however, which is part of its “Born This Way Ball” tour in Asia, has received stiff opposition from conservative Muslim groups in Indonesia, including the notorious Islam Defender Front (FPI), which vowed to send members to Soekarno-Hatta International airport to prevent the US singer from setting foot in the country. (sat)
