Indonesia censors ban film on Bali bombings

JAKARTA, Dec 16 (Reuters) Indonesia has barred a documentary on the 2002 Bali bombings from being shown at an international film festival over concerns that remarks made by one of the bombers in the film could encourage terrorist attacks.

Titie Said, the head of the national film censor board, said today the 70-minute film had been banned after one of the bombers had suggested carrying out suicide bombings was a way to enter heaven.

''Promised Paradise'', directed by Dutchman Leonard Retel Helmrich, explores the roots of the Bali nightclub bombings, which killed over 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.

It includes a statement from one of the convicted bombers, Imam Samudra, who is awaiting execution along with two others for the attack.

''We rejected it because in it Imam Samudra made a statement that could stir things up ... It is not good if it is provocative,'' the film censor told Reuters by telephone.

She said the comments could threaten stability in Bali.

Lalu Roisamri, programme manager of the Jakarta International Film Festival, said he was aware that the censors felt the film was controversial, but had yet to receive an official letter banning it.

Indonesia has also banned a documentary on the once volatile Aceh province from being screened at the festival on the grounds that it could disturb security, the festival's organisers said.

''The Black Road'', a documentary by American freelance journalist William Nessen who was banned from entering Aceh in April, tells the story of the nearly 30-year separatist conflict in Aceh that killed some 15,000 people.

Three films on East Timor have also been barred from the December 8-17 festival held in Jakarta: ''Tales of Crocodiles'' from the Netherlands, ''Passabe'' from Singapore and a 12-minute animated film from Portugal on East Timor's history titled ''Timor Loro Sae''.

About 250 films from 35 countries are due to be screened at the festival.

REUTERS MS HT1637