Harrison Ford threatened with deportation from Indonesia
Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, famous for movie series such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones and a number of great blockbusters, has been accused of “harassing state institutions” in Indonesia and has been threatened with deportation after allegedly confronting a minister during an interview with illegal logging and climate change.
The actor has been in Indonesia filming an episode for the climate change documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, which will air on US television in April 2014 and feature Matt Damon and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Ford, 71, traveled to locations around the country to interview Indonesian activists and officials, including the president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on issues including forest fires, peatland conservation and palm oil plantations. He also interviewed Forestry Minister Zulkifi Hasan, who said he was “left shocked by Ford’s emotionally charged interview techniques” and complained there was no time to go over the questions before filming began, local media reported.
“I suddenly had my face made up and was then interviewed,” Hasan told the state news agency Antara. “I was given a chance to make only one or two comments.”
The minister was so angered by the interview with Ford that he threatened to have the actor deported, despite the fact that Ford was due to leave on September 10 anyway.
Ford appears to have witnessed illegal logging taking place in Sumatra’s Tesso Nilo national park and asked Hasan why deforestation was occurring in protected areas while the guilty seemingly had free rein. The minister said he told Ford that illegal logging was “a complicated issue” in Indonesia and required a more varied approach to stem it than simple force.
“There’s no privilege for him although he is a great actor,” presidential spokesman Andi Arief said. “His crew and those who were helping him in Indonesia must be questioned to find out their motives for harassing a state institution.”
Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, famous for movie series such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones and a number of great blockbusters, has been accused of "harassing state institutions" in Indonesia and has been threatened with deportation after allegedly confronting a minister during an interview with illegal logging and climate change. The actor has been in Indonesia filming an episode for the climate change documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, which will air on US television in April 2014 and feature Matt Damon and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ford, 71, traveled to locations around the country to interview Indonesian activists and officials, including...
Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, famous for movie series such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones and a number of great blockbusters, has been accused of “harassing state institutions” in Indonesia and has been threatened with deportation after allegedly confronting a minister during an interview with illegal logging and climate change.
The actor has been in Indonesia filming an episode for the climate change documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, which will air on US television in April 2014 and feature Matt Damon and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Ford, 71, traveled to locations around the country to interview Indonesian activists and officials, including the president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on issues including forest fires, peatland conservation and palm oil plantations. He also interviewed Forestry Minister Zulkifi Hasan, who said he was “left shocked by Ford’s emotionally charged interview techniques” and complained there was no time to go over the questions before filming began, local media reported.
“I suddenly had my face made up and was then interviewed,” Hasan told the state news agency Antara. “I was given a chance to make only one or two comments.”
The minister was so angered by the interview with Ford that he threatened to have the actor deported, despite the fact that Ford was due to leave on September 10 anyway.
Ford appears to have witnessed illegal logging taking place in Sumatra’s Tesso Nilo national park and asked Hasan why deforestation was occurring in protected areas while the guilty seemingly had free rein. The minister said he told Ford that illegal logging was “a complicated issue” in Indonesia and required a more varied approach to stem it than simple force.
“There’s no privilege for him although he is a great actor,” presidential spokesman Andi Arief said. “His crew and those who were helping him in Indonesia must be questioned to find out their motives for harassing a state institution.”
