American publishers deplore censorship<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A visiting delegation from the Association of
\nAmerican Publishers yesterday called for an end to censorship in
\nIndonesia and more respect for writers' and journalists' rights
\nto express their views without fear of intimidation.<\/p>\n
After a week-long stay here, Wendy Wolf, the chair of the
\nAssociation's International Freedom to Publish Committee,
\nexpressed the delegation's concern about restrictions on writers
\nand journalists in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
She said that while it was encouraging to see people talking
\nopenly about restrictions on freedom of expression, it was
\ntroubling to see \"three journalists sitting in a prison in
\nCirebon for their reporting and more than 2,000 books banned from
\ncirculation.\"<\/p>\n
Wendy was referring to Eko Maryadi, Ahmad Taufik -- both from
\nthe unrecognized Aliance of Independent Journalists -- and
\nTriagus Siswowihardjo from Pijar foundation.<\/p>\n
The association's 11 member delegation came here to study
\nfreedom of expression in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The delegation includes fiction writer Barbara Thompson Davis,
\nnovelist Lawrence Thornton, novelist and anthropologist at
\nColombia University Amitav Ghosh and Editor-in-Chief of William
\nMorrow and Company William Schwalbe.<\/p>\n
During their stay they met many people, including fellow
\nwriters, journalists and academics. They also met the National
\nHuman Rights Commission and the Indonesian Publishers
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
However government officials seemed reluctant to see them.
\nAttorney General Singgih refused to meet the group and Minister
\nof Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro canceled an
\nalready-scheduled meeting.<\/p>\n
\"In many countries, repressive governments censor books for
\ncontent which they fear may incite public unrest. In Indonesia
\nbooks are censored not only for what they contain but for who
\ntheir authors are,\" Wendy said, adding that \"the culture of fear
\noften leads too often to self-censorship.\"<\/p>\n
The delegation said that the conditions, in which government
\noffices like the Attorney General's Office could ban
\npublications, bred a climate of fear where publishers refused to
\nprint \"critical\" books, booksellers refused to sell them and
\npeople were even afraid to have the books in their homes.<\/p>\n
Particular concern was expressed for those under various
\nrestrictions, such as the famous writer, Pramoedya Ananta Toer,
\nwho suffers travel and publication bans.<\/p>\n
The publishers delegation said that during their meetings they
\nheard about very real, ominous problems that writers encounter in
\neveryday life. These included censorship, books being banned,
\npeople being harassed for reading the books and of academics
\nbeing cramped in their intellectual pursuits.<\/p>\n
\"All which are unacceptable practices in the international
\ncommunity of words and ideas,\" said Wendy who is also a senior
\neditor with Penguin U.S.A..<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps most distressing of all, we heard about words that
\nare no longer written or spoken because writers are either afraid
\nto write what they think, or because someone has told them that
\nthey cannot,\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
The delegation said that after the trip it would meet U.S.
\ngovernment officials and businesses to inform them about the
\nstate of freedom of expression in Indonesia. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/american-publishers-deplore-censorship-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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