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JAKARTA: Indonesia's journalists Thursday vowed to defy a ban on the screening of Australian movie "Balibo", saying the film depicting alleged war crimes by Indonesian forces in Timor Leste is educational.
The film directed by Robert Connolly and starring Anthony LaPaglia was banned without explanation on Tuesday hours before it was due to premier in Indonesia at a private showing for the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club.
It depicts the alleged murder of five Australian-based journalists by invading Indonesian forces in the Timor Leste border town of Balibo in 1975.
Indonesia claims the reporters – two Australians, two Britons and a New Zealander – were killed in crossfire and has refused to cooperate with an Australian war crimes investigation launched this year.
Alliance of Independent Journalists head Nezar Patria said its members had been invited to a screening Thursday night at Utan Kayu Theatre in Jakarta, regardless of the ban.
"We're not afraid of screening 'Balibo' tonight because we'll screen it at a theatre with limited seats, not at a huge cinema," he said. "The film is also about journalism so we as journalists can learn something about reporting on a conflict area."
The film, which opened in Australia in July, was also scratched at the last minute from the programme for the Jakarta International Film Festival starting next week.
Censors have yet to comment publicly on their decision to ban the film, but Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told parliament on Wednesday it was meant to protect the country's global image.
Indonesia's military has also applauded the decision.
"I haven't seen the film myself but from what I've heard, it depicts foreign journalists being killed by Indonesian military," military spokesman Sagom Tamboen told AFP.
"This is very hurtful to us. We believe the journalists died in crossfire. We thank the censorship board for its decision to ban 'Balibo' in Indonesia."
Patria, however, said the ban was regrettable. "This should be interesting and educational as our relations with Australia can become more mature," he said.
- AFP/so
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