United States musician Bruno Mars speaks to the audience on May 20 during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Photo: AFP file
JAKARTA: Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has urged the public to stay calm as calls grow to boycott American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars’ upcoming Jakarta concert over his alleged support for Israel in the Gaza war.
Criticism against Mars has been amplified by social media posts shared as evidence of the United States musician backing the Israeli military campaign against militant group Hamas, a conflict that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians in the Palestinian exclave.
While Sandiaga reiterated Indonesia’s unwavering support for an independent Palestine, he said the concert should be seen as an issue separate from maintaining the country’s position on the global stage.
“We must not let personal or political views affect our creative economy,” Sandiaga told reporters on Monday (July 1).
“We are a democratic country,” the minister continued, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Indonesia’s “free and active foreign policy position”.
“Just like Coldplay before, we have given all [necessary] explanations,” he added, referring to the British group’s November 2023 concert in Jakarta.
“Our country is a country of law, a country that supports Palestine, and we fight for Palestinian independence.
"That [position] has received appreciation from many countries,” said Sandiaga.
Mars, whose real name is Peter Gene Hernandez, has faced fierce resistance from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for political and economic pressure to criticise of Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
The movement’s Malaysian branch called for boycotting the Grammy-winning singer’s concert in Kuala Lumpur, citing his silence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his performance in Tel Aviv last year, during which he expressed his excitement at performing in Israel again in front of an audience of 60,000.
The “Just the Way You Are” singer is scheduled to perform on Sept 11, 13 and 14 at Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) in North Jakarta.
Initially planned for two dates only, the Bruno Mars Live in Jakarta concert was extended to three due to strong local demand.
Sandiaga said the government’s simplified procedures now made it easier to issue event permits, expressing hope that the expanded concert schedule would attract more tourists and generate more tourism revenue.
“We must ensure foreign exchange stays in Indonesia,” he added.
“Our focus should be on attracting tourists and foreign exchange to boost our tourism industry.”
Bruno Mars Live in Jakarta is billed as a comeback event after his absence from the country of around a decade.
The 1985-born singer has toured Indonesia twice, the last time in 2014 on the Jakarta leg of his Moonshine Jungle Tour, three years after he debuted with a 2011 concert at the Tennis Indoor Stadium of Jakarta’s Senayan sports complex. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
