Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com)
The Jakarta Post | Thu, 09/30/2010 4:35 PM |
Arghea Desafti Hapsari
Indonesia observes the anniversary of the death of seven generals in the 1965 abortive coup, that led to a pogrom against hundreds of thousands of alleged members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Forty-five years on, fears of communism linger on in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), still unwilling to revoke laws allowing the government to ban books on Marxism.
The AGO in 2009 banned books, including John Roosa’s take on the coup, entitled Dalih Pembunuhan Massal Gerakan 30 September dan Kudeta Soeharto (Pretext for Mass Murder The September 30 Movement and Soehartos Coup d’ Etat).
The AGO claimed the book might “disrupt public order” allegedly containing “false information”. An AGO official was reported to have said the book was provocative against the Constitution and Pancasila, and communist propaganda.
The AGO also prohibited the distribution of Lekra Tak Pernah Membakar Buku, Suara Senyap Lembar Kebudayaan Harian Rakjat 1950-1965 (Lekra Never Burns Books, Harian Rakjats Cultural Pages Silent Voice) by Rhoma Dwi Aria Yuliantri and Muhidin M. Dahlan.
Books on faith and spirituality were also banned on the grounds that they could spread heretical teaching and cause confusion.
The AGO confiscated dozens of history textbooks, particularly those highlighting the Sept. 30 movement, citing fears they could lead to a resurgence of communism.
A historian from the University of Indonesia, Asvi Warman Adam, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that Roosa’s book offers a new perspective on the history behind the 1965 incident to the public.
“Book banning is no longer a relevant practice today. It is a product of the Sukarno’s regime, which survived the new order regime,” he said.
He added that after the fall of Soeharto’s New Order in 1998, the AGO actually stopped banning books, but started to do so again about 2006.
“There was no book banning through the era president Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid or Megawati. It was only picked up during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration,” he said.
He urged Yudhoyono to “take responsibility” and put an end to this.
Under Article 30 (3) of the 2004 AGO law, the AGO has the authority to control the circulation of printed material to maintain public order.
This authority is being contested by an author whose book was among those banned in February who requested the Constitutional Court to review the article. The court has yet to decide on the matter.
Asvi said fear of communism is still prevalent among some people.
“But what is more visible is that there are attempts made by certain groups to keep the threat of communism alive. They reap benefits by doing so. But this is irrelevant. What danger can it possibly be? Their members are now 80 years old. Just because they believed in communism, does not mean their children would have the same ideology,” he added.
Indonesia witnessed in June that the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) raided and broke up a meeting in a restaurant in Banyuwangi involving members of the House of Representatives committee overseeing health affairs.
The FPI accused the legislators of holding a reunion for former members of the PKI. One of the lawmakers, Ribka Tjiptaning from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, (PDI-P), is the author of a memoir entitled, I’m proud to be the daughter of a PKI member.
— JP
Indonesia observes the anniversary of the death of seven generals in the 1965 abortive coup, that led to a pogrom against hundreds of thousands of alleged members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Forty-five years on, fears of communism linger on in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), still unwilling to revoke laws allowing the government to ban books on Marxism.
The AGO in 2009 banned books, including John Roosa’s take on the coup, entitled Dalih Pembunuhan Massal Gerakan 30 September dan Kudeta Soeharto (Pretext for Mass Murder The September 30 Movement and Soehartos Coup d’ Etat).
The AGO claimed the book might “disrupt public order” allegedly containing “false information”. An AGO official was reported to have said the book was provocative against the Constitution and Pancasila, and communist propaganda.
The AGO also prohibited the distribution of Lekra Tak Pernah Membakar Buku, Suara Senyap Lembar Kebudayaan Harian Rakjat 1950-1965 (Lekra Never Burns Books, Harian Rakjats Cultural Pages Silent Voice) by Rhoma Dwi Aria Yuliantri and Muhidin M. Dahlan.
Books on faith and spirituality were also banned on the grounds that they could spread heretical teaching and cause confusion.
The AGO confiscated dozens of history textbooks, particularly those highlighting the Sept. 30 movement, citing fears they could lead to a resurgence of communism.
A historian from the University of Indonesia, Asvi Warman Adam, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that Roosa’s book offers a new perspective on the history behind the 1965 incident to the public.
“Book banning is no longer a relevant practice today. It is a product of the Sukarno’s regime, which survived the new order regime,” he said.
He added that after the fall of Soeharto’s New Order in 1998, the AGO actually stopped banning books, but started to do so again about 2006.
“There was no book banning through the era president Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid or Megawati. It was only picked up during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration,” he said.
He urged Yudhoyono to “take responsibility” and put an end to this.
Under Article 30 (3) of the 2004 AGO law, the AGO has the authority to control the circulation of printed material to maintain public order.
This authority is being contested by an author whose book was among those banned in February who requested the Constitutional Court to review the article. The court has yet to decide on the matter.
Asvi said fear of communism is still prevalent among some people.
“But what is more visible is that there are attempts made by certain groups to keep the threat of communism alive. They reap benefits by doing so. But this is irrelevant. What danger can it possibly be? Their members are now 80 years old. Just because they believed in communism, does not mean their children would have the same ideology,” he added.
Indonesia witnessed in June that the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) raided and broke up a meeting in a restaurant in Banyuwangi involving members of the House of Representatives committee overseeing health affairs.
The FPI accused the legislators of holding a reunion for former members of the PKI. One of the lawmakers, Ribka Tjiptaning from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, (PDI-P), is the author of a memoir entitled, I’m proud to be the daughter of a PKI member.
— JP
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