The Indonesian democracy activist and left-leaning poet Wiji Thukul (literally sprouting seed) went missing in 1998. He is presumed (but without conclusive evidence) to have been kidnapped and murdered by elements of the military under the command of Prabowo Subianto. In the current presidential campaign Prabowo has made effective use of poetry and Jokowis campaign team has responded with its own snatches of poetry. Novi Djenar writes insightfully about this war of poetry in a fine and unusual opinion piece in this mornings Canberra Times. She quotes Wiji Thukuls younger brother who says of Prabowo You have no right to write poetry when it was you who kidnapped the poet. canberratimes.au/comment/indonesian-presidential-hopefuls-campaign-for-poetic-justice-20140703-zsuk6.html.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:53:27 +0000