Indonesian Francais Indonesia (IFI), the French cultural center in Bandung, West Java, and a Bandung-based theater group, Mainteater, canceled the monolog theater performance of national hero Tan Malaka on Wednesday following pressure from a hard-line group that accused the show of spreading communist ideology.

The cancelation, just two hours before the show started, was related to pressure and threats from from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), said IFI Bandung cultural program coordinator Ricky Arnold.

The monolog, entitled Saya Rusa Berbulu Merah (I Am a Red-furred Fox), was scheduled to be performed on Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m.

The representatives of the hard-line groups visited IFI at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and demanded the organizers cancel the show.

"The cancelation was not done because we are afraid or to justify their actions oppressing freedom of expression, but we have invited people to come and we do not want any of them to become victims of the groups," Ricky said on Wednesday.

The monolog's scriptwriter, Ahda Imran, questioned why Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil would allow such oppression.

"Bandung is known as a creative city. People say that Bandung is the city of human rights, that Bandung is a champion. Prove it: What kind of champion is Bandung?" said Ahda, who had been writing the script since 2013.

The Mainteater group decided to have a show on Tan Malaka to pay respect to the forgotten hero. The group believed Tan's ideology is still relevant to Indonesia's current situation.

"We need to learn by example: How Tan Malaka put the country's interest above his personal and party interests," Ahda said.

The monolog's director, Wawan Sofwan, also questioned where the state was when freedom of expressions was being restricted by hard-liners.

He denied that the theater group was related to the leftist movement, as accused by the FPI.

"This is the twilight for freedom of expression and doing arts. There are so many reports on restrictions. This is a challenge for Jokowi [President Joko Widodo]. How could we do our art?" Wawan asked.

Tan Malaka was a controversial leftist figure who fought for the country's independence against Dutch colonialism. President Soekarno's administration named Tan Malaka a national hero in 1963, but the New Order regime under late dictator Soeharto decided to minimize Tan Malaka's role in the country's struggle against the Dutch, given his ties to the communist movement.

The canceled show's production leader, Heliana Sinaga, said that 150 tickets, priced at Rp 30,000 (US$2.27) each, were sold per day.

The organizers are working on how to refund the ticket purchasers.

IFI director Melaney Martini said the organization supported the show because it reflected values related to human rights, including freedom of expression.

"This is a good script that young generations must know because there are not much information on Tan Malaka," Melaney said, adding that the IFI provided the space for the show for free.

Dedi Subu from the West Java FPI said the group opposed the monolog because he claimed it spread communist teachings. He insisted that communism had been banned by law and thus such an event had to be canceled.

Despite having protested against the show, Dedi admitted that he had not read the script provided by the organizers.

"Why would I read it? We all know that Tan Malaka was a communist," he said adding that the FPI threatened to enlist the help of other mass organizations if the performance organizers had insisted on carrying on with the show. (rin)

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