Yogyakarta – Protesters from the Jogja Calling Alliance taking part in a protest action titled #PeopleTogether (#Bersamarakyat) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta highlighted the song "Pay Pay Pay" (Bayar Bayar Bayar) by the punk band Sukatani which has recently been withdrawn from all streaming services.
Speaking through a loudspeaker from the command vehicle, one of the participants at the action said that Sukatani had become a victim of repression of freedom of expression and art. Allegations of repression surfaced after Sukatani band members publicly announced the withdrawal of the song "Pay Pay Pay" from all music platforms and made an apology to the National Police.
"I'm not going to give a speech here. I will only speak about Sukatani which has become a victim of repression, they were repressed', said the speaker in front of the Agung Building or Yogyakarta Presidential Palace on Thursday February 20.
According to the speaker, the song "Pay Pay Pay" symbolises the unrest felt towards unscrupulous members of the police. Using a loudspeaker from the command car, they then played the song "Getting Older, Getting More Punk" by Sukatani as a form of solidarity.
During the action the demonstrators also highlighted other cases of repression against artistic expression. This included, among others, the censure of an art exhibition at the National Gallery by artist Yos Suprapto in December last year as well as the padlocking last week of a venue for a theatre performance titled "Interview with Mulyono" (a derogatory nickname for former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo) by the Black Umbrella Theatre at the Indonesian Cultural Arts Institute (ISBI) in Bandung, West Java.
As of 4.34 pm, the Jogja Calling Alliance action was still ongoing in front of the Agung Building. The action was marred by the burning of the water barriers or empty road dividers and plastic bottles.
Earlier, the Sukatani band uploaded an apology to the National Police related to the single "Pay Pay Pay". The apology was uploaded because the song contained lyrics about paying illegal fees to police officers.
The song then went viral on social media which encourage band members Syifa Al Lufti alias Alectroguy and Novi Citra alias Twister Angel to apologise through the Sukatani's official account.
"We apologise profusely to the National Police Chief and the National Police as an institution for our song creation with the song title 'Pay Pay Pay' with the lyrics 'pay the police' that we sung until it went viral of several social media platforms", Alectroguy said via Instagram earlier on Thursday.
"Actually I created the song for police who violate the rules", said Alectroguy. "I have already removed and withdrawn our song titled 'Pay Pay Pay', with the lyrics pay the police."
Despite this, a number of cross-generation musicians in fact articulated their support for Sukatani.
"No need to withdraw the song, put your foot down!!!", said Deadsquad guitarist Stevi Item in the comments column of the Sukatani upload.
"Sukatani Forever! #Wearetogetherwithsukatani" said the band Morfem in the same comments column.
Singer-actor Bisma Karisma also expressed his support. Karisma wrote a spirited comment about Sukatani shortly after they withdraw "Pay Pay Pay" from music streaming services.
Awan from the rock band .Feast also made similar comments by encouraging Sukatani to keep working and singing. He also slipped in the code 1312, a symbol of the slogan that is often used to articulate resistance to the police.
"Have courage Sukatani", Bisma wrote in the comment column. "Sukatani is still singing. 1312", said Awan .Feast in Sukatani's comments column.
Arian, the vocalist from the band Seringai,, also voiced support for Sukatani. He gave his support because he believes the band had been intimidated into withdrawing the song.
Rapper Tuan Tigabelas also spoke out critically in response to the tweet. He revealed what was experienced by Sukatani just after they took down "Pay Pay Pay" from streaming platforms.
"SUKATANI WERE INTIMIDATED. SUKATANI FOREVER, 1312 FOREVER", said Arian.
"This isn't funny, but sad and true, the band Sukatani was intimidated by police and forced to take down their work from streaming services", tweeted Tuan Tigabelas. (wis/kum)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aksi Jogja Memanggil Dukung Band Sukatani: Mereka Korban".]
