Slank turns to MK for freedom to perform

JAKARTA. Veteran rock band Slank has turned to the Constitutional Court (MK) to protect their constitutional rights after police canceled several of their performances.

On Wednesday, the band filed a request for a judicial review of Article 15 (2) of the 2002 National Police Law in conjunction with Article 510 of the Criminal Code (KUHP). Under the law, the police have the authority to decide whether or not to give their permission for "activities involving crowds".

"Since 2008, they have banned our musical performances several times, but it was last year when they repeatedly canceled our performances citing various reasons," Slank guitarist Abdee Negara said on Wednesday.

"In some places, we were able stage our gigs, but in others we got no certainty. It really violated our right to freedom of expression."

In November, police banned the veteran rock band from performing in the Soundrenaline 2012 concert at BSD City in South Tangerang. It cited Slank as a band with a bad record as many of their fans had ended up rioting at the group's concerts.

Unlike the other bands on the play list, Slank was not allowed to perform at the concert.

In late 2009, a Slank concert at the Jakarta Fair Exhibition Ground was also canceled.

Slank’s lawyer, Andi Muttaqien of rights watchdog Elsam, said the law articles under review were vague as "they provide no clear definition on the actual activities involving a crowd".

"If the police were not happy with the concert, they could simply have withheld their permission," he said.

Andi said that in many cases, national security was used as a pretext which, he added, was "unreasonable". (Ina Parlina/ The Jakarta Post)