INDONESIA: Book bannings spur struggle for political liberty
On December 23, the Indonesian Attorney General’s Department announced the banning of five books. Soon afterwards, it became known that the attorney general is looking at possibly banning another 20 titles. This follows the banning of the film Balibo, which tells the story of Suharto’s invasion of East Timor and the suppression of history textbooks in 2007. There has been no repeal since Suharto’s ouster of any of the book bans imposed during the dictator’s rule.
The five banned books are: Suara Gereja bagi Umat Tertindas Penderitaan Tetesan Darah dan Cucuran Air Mata Umat Tuhan di Papua Barat Harus Diakhiri (The Voice of the Church for the Suffering of the Oppressed: The Spilling of Blood and Tears of God’s People in Papua Must Be Ended) by Cocratez Sofyan Yoman, Enam Jalan Menuju Tuhan (Six Roads to God) by Darmawan, Mengungkap Misteri Keberagaman Agama (Explaining the Mysteries of Religious Diversity) by Syahrudin Ahmad, Dalih Pembunuhan Massa Gerakan 30 September dan Kudeta Soeharto (Pretext for Mass Murder: The September 30 Movement and Suharto’s Coup) by John Roosa and Lekra Tak Membakar Buku: Suara Senyap Lembar Kebudayaan Harian Rakjat 1950-1965 (Lekra Did Not Burn Books: The Silent Voice of the Cultural Pages of the Peoples Daily, 1950-65) by Rhoma Dwi Aria Yuliantri and Muhidin M. Dahlan. READ MORE
INDONESIA: 21 more media reports on January 28 protests (in English)
More great work by James Balowski and the Asia Pacific Solidarity Network website:
Thousands mark 100 days of Yudhoyono presidency with protests throughout Indonesia
New York Times Review of THIS EARTH OF MANKIND by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
The 1992 review in THE NEW YORK TIMES of the English language version of Pramoedya’s Bumi Manusia (THIS EARTH OF MANKIND) can now be found here.
INDONESIA: Abdurrahman Wahid: contradictions of an unsuccessful democrat
Abdurrahman Wahid, the president of Indonesia between 1999 and 2001, died on December 30, aged 69. His death was met by a wave of commentary and discussion praising his contribution to Indonesian society, especially from the humanitarian and liberal democratic sectors: intellectuals, NGOS and human rights advocates. These sectors, with some justification, lamented his death as a loss for those struggling against discrimination and for a broadening of civil liberties generally.
Wahid, also affectionately known as “Gus Dur” (elder brother Dur), was at his peak of controversy during his presidency. He took a series of positions that put him at loggerheads with the majority of the Indonesian ruling class and its representatives in parliament. At that time, the president was not directly elected but was chosen by the parliament. The parliament that had elected him in 1999 turned against him by 2001, ousting him on highly dubious charges of corruption. read more
Max Lane 2010 events – Updated February 4, 2010
This schedule will be updated regularly and can be accessed by clicking “Where Max is Speaking” just under the banner of this blog, on the far right.
FEBRUARY
Indonesia in 2010: what kind of neighbourhood?
18 Feb, 6.30pm GLEEBOOKS, Glebe Point Rd., Glebe
ALL WELCOME at above time and place. You can help by RSVPing to: morgan@gleebooks.com.au
An “In Conversation” discussion flowing from Max Lane’s book: UNFINISHED NATION: Indonesia before and after Suharto, (Verso, 2008). Max Lane has just returned to Australia after being based in Singapore and Jakarta for three years.
Ten years after Suharto, the Indonesian government is still banning political films, such as Balibo. The police, prosecutor’s office and the courts are revealed as implicated in plots to frame rivals, including in the anti-corruption agencies, but nobody is arrested and tried. Books are still banned and even burned in public.Ministers claim that natural disasters are God’s response to moral decadence.Raising a flag in Papua still means gaol.
Are these anomalies in a new democratising Indonesia, ot the results of unfinished business in an unfinished nation.
What is going to happen politically in Australia’s largest Asian neighbour, Indonesia – the fourth most populous nation in the world.
The “In Panel” discussion will ne started off by an exchange between author, Max Lane, and the University of Sydney’s professor of Southeast Asian Studies, Dr Adrian Vickers
APRIL
The crisis to come: Indonesia and the politics of 21st century underdevelopment
ASIA INSTITUTE Public Lecture, University of Melbourne
15 April, Thursday 6.30pm
INDONESIA: Links and more reports on January 28 actions
Below are links to a few more reports – in English – on the lead up to the January 28 protests in Indonesia.
Peoples Challenge Alliance (ARM) in Jogja, Jan 28
As indicated in an earlier posting on this blog the main progressive alliance mobilising in Jakarta was FOR INDONESIA (Front Opposisi Rakyat Indonesia). From perusing the media it seems that different progressive alliances were formed and mobilised in other cities. For example, in Jogjakarta, it was the Peoples Challenge Alliance (ARM), in Medan (Sumatra) the Democracy Movement, in Makassar (Sulawesi) the Gateway to Revolution and in Ternate, the Peoples Cultural Network. Read more…
Film Review: THE ROAD, with updated POSTSCRIPT
After postponing the decision several times unsure whether I wanted to spend my leisure time watching a film that was universally being described as a harrowing depiction of humankind’s return to barbarism after an apocalyptic Armageddon event. The reviews kept pulling me back to the cinema – they all hailed the script, acting and direction. In addition the film was based on a book by author Cormac McCarthy, who had also won the Pulitzer Prize. So eventually I went to see the film. The film was also been widely watched in Australia and the United States. It was directed by John Hillcoat.
INDONESIA: PHOTOS/REPORTS: FOR INDONESIA January 28 protest actions
INDONESIAN PEOPLES OPPOSITION FRONT (FOR INDONESIA) prepares to march on January 28 (yesterday) protesting the failure of the Yudhoyono government to improve the plight of the people and calling for a united peoples government. January 28 was the anniversary on the first 100 days of Yudhoyono’s second term and was a day of protest by many different groups throughout the country.
For more about FOR INDONESIA’s (Jakarta) political outlook see :
http://maxlaneonline.com/2010/01/23/indonesia-politics-new-progessive-activists-alliance/
EVENT: Indonesia in 2010: what kind of neighbourhood?
This schedule will be updated regularly and can be accessed by clicking “Where Max is Speaking” just under the banner of this blog, on the far right.
FEBRUARY
Indonesia in 2010: what kind of neighbourhood?
18 Feb, 6.30pm GLEEBOOKS, Glebe Point Rd., Glebe
ALL WELCOME at above time and place. You can help by RSVPing to: morgan@gleebooks.com.au
An “In Conversation” discussion flowing from Max Lane’s book: UNFINISHED NATION: Indonesia before and after Suharto, (Verso, 2008). Max Lane has just returned to Australia after being based in Singapore and Jakarta for three years.
Ten years after Suharto, the Indonesian government is still banning political films, such as Balibo. The police, prosecutor’s office and the courts are revealed as implicated in plots to frame rivals, including in the anti-corruption agencies, but nobody is arrested and tried. Books are still banned and even burned in public.Ministers claim that natural disasters are God’s response to moral decadence.Raising a flag in Papua still means gaol.
Are these anomalies in a new democratising Indonesia, ot the results of unfinished business in an unfinished nation.
What is going to happen politically in Australia’s largest Asian neighbour, Indonesia – the fourth most populous nation in the world.
The “In Panel” discussion will ne started off by an exchange between author, Max Lane, and the University of Sydney’s professor of Southeast Asian Studies, Dr Adrian Vickers
APRIL
The crisis to come: Indonesia and the politics of 21st century underdevelopment
ASIA INSTITUTE Public Lecture, University of Melbourne
15 April, Thursday 6.30pm
MUSIC: sombre tones of music like the suffering and “dark history” of Pramoedya and his works
The Australian newspaper has carried a report on the Singapore MAX LANE. ”Johari likens the sombre tones of his music to the suffering and “dark history” of Pramoedya and his works”. It is in its January 27 issue and the article is entitled “New act plays to the Max“.
