Banned author awarded<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Banned author Pramoedya Ananta Toer found at his
\nhome yesterday the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh prize for promoting
\npeace, tolerance and non-violence.<\/p>\n
The award came as a surprise to 71-year-old Pramoedya, with
\nnone of his family knowing who had delivered it or when.<\/p>\n
\"I seems the award was sent here secretly. I just found it at
\naround 11 this morning,\" Pramoedya said.<\/p>\n
An official with the United Nations Education and Culture
\nOrganization's office here said that she also knew nothing about
\nthe award.<\/p>\n
The prize, dated Nov. 18 and signed by UNESCO's director
\ngeneral Frederico Mayor, is only one of international laurels
\nadorning Pramoedya's cabinet. He received the Magsaysay Award
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
\"The peace prize shows that the international community
\nacknowledges the truth of both my stance and conduct,\" Pramoedya
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh prize was also given to a
\nCuban and a Russian writer.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya said that due to his worsening health he did not
\nplan to write any more books. He also has a hearing problem.<\/p>\n
The government banned all Pramoedya's books because of his
\nactivities in the Lekra cultural council linked to the now
\noutlawed Indonesian Communist Party.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya was jailed for 14 years, 10 years of which were
\nspent in a labor camp on Buru Island, following an abortive coup
\nattempt in 1965 by the communist party. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/banned-author-awarded-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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