Cultural approach needed on books<\/p>\n
By R. Masri Sareb Putra<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former governor of Jakarta, Ali Sadikin recently
\nreceived a summons from the chief justice, purely for owning a
\nbook.<\/p>\n
The book, titled Era Baru Pemimpin Baru: Badio Menolak Rezim
\nOrde Baru (New Era, New Leader: Badio Rejects the New Order
\nRegime, The Jakarta Post March 18), had earlier been banned by
\nthe Attorney General's Office. This was the first banning this
\nyear and the seventh in four years.<\/p>\n
Book banning remains a controversial policy. Academics condemn
\nthe practice but the government argues that the practice is
\njustified on the grounds of maintaining \"public order\". The
\ngovernment maintains that certain books could rupture public
\nstability.<\/p>\n
Unlike the press, which can be shut down, as was the case with
\nTempo magazine, a book can only be banned and withdrawn from the
\nmarket. A publishing company will only lose its printing license
\nand there has never been a publisher who has had to close down
\nhis or her business.<\/p>\n
In the last five years, two types of books have been banned.
\nFirst, books which are classified as pornography, such as Madame
\nD. Syuga written by Fuji Hideki, banned on Nov. 8, 1993. Second,
\npolitically controversial books have been banned, such as the one
\nmentioned above.<\/p>\n
The government seems to consider books as a possible political
\nvehicle while academics view them as valuable contributions to
\nresearch and political knowledge.<\/p>\n
Take for instance, Karl Marx book Das Kapital which is
\nprohibited in Indonesia. Should this not be of interest to those
\nwho want to understand economics? While politicians would obtain
\ninsights from reading Machiavelli's work, or, from Adolf Hitler's
\nMein Kampf.<\/p>\n
On this point, Darmanto Yatman, a lecturer of Diponegoro
\nUniversity in Semarang once suggested that some literature,
\nincluding the novels of Pramoedya Ananta Toer should be made
\navailable at least to university libraries.<\/p>\n
But Law No. 4\/PNPS\/1963 regarding the Security of Printed
\nMaterial stipulates that when a ban has been imposed there is no
\nroom for leniency.<\/p>\n
It seems that the government is adopting what has been called
\nthe \"security approach\" in this case. This should not be so as
\ntransparency has become the catchword in many areas of life. It
\nwould be difficult to completely withdraw all banned material
\nstill in circulation.<\/p>\n
Also, how do we identify owners of this forbidden literature?
\nThe government's appeal to hand in banned books is likely to be
\nignored. Indeed, banning a book often brings the opposite
\nresults, people will scurry to get it.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, a writer can also use a pen name to protect
\nhim or herself.<\/p>\n
For these reasons, it would be best for the government to
\nadopt a cultural approach. Up until now, new books are
\nscrutinized by the attorney general. The attorney's judgment is
\nfinal. Discussion with writers is not entered into.<\/p>\n
The Adik Baru, Cara Menjelaskan Seks Kepada Anak (A New
\nSibling, How to Explain Sex to Children) is a case in point. The
\nAttorney General's Office banned the book on grounds of
\npornography. Conny Semiawan, a respected educator who edited the
\ntranslated book said that the subject of sex was written in the
\ncontext of education and was never meant to be pornographic. The
\nban remains.<\/p>\n
What determines that a book is to be banned? It seems that the
\ngovernment, including the Attorney General's Office and its
\npermanent team members from the State Intelligence Coordinating
\nBoard, the Armed Forces Intelligence Body, the National Police,
\nthe Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and
\nthe Ministry of Information, have their own criteria.<\/p>\n
The attorney general always cites Law No. 27 \"In maintaining
\npublic order and peace, the Attorney General's Office will
\nscrutinize printed material.\"<\/p>\n
Thus can a writer be charged with causing public disorder.
\nThis even more the case, if a book bears elements that can be
\nconsidered as inciting hatred or slander.<\/p>\n
Books containing the teachings of Marx and Lenin are also
\nbanned. This is despite the case that communism in Indonesia has
\nofficially been \"crushed\" and the Soviet Union is no more.<\/p>\n
In today's atmosphere of greater openness, the government
\nshould reconsider its policies and at least be willing to discuss
\ncontents of books bordering on science with writers like that of
\nAdik Baru. Exceptions should apply to those writers who
\ndeliberately dwell in sensitive subjects of race, ethnicity,
\nreligion, community groups such as in Dosa dan Penebusan Menurut
\nIslam dan Kristen (1991), (Sins and Redemption in Islam and
\nChristianity), Sikap Muslim Terhadap Pancasila (1987), (Moslems
\nAttitude to Pancasila State Ideology), or Ritual Jahiliah yang
\nHaram (1988), (the Jahiliah Haram Ritual).<\/p>\n
Unlike the printed media which usually receives three warnings
\nbefore it is told to close down, books are only banned once and
\nthis ends their market distribution.<\/p>\n
From 1987 to 1997, 70 books and printed materials have been
\nbanned. They include political books such as Menuntut Janji Orde
\nBaru (1987), (Demanding the New Order's Promises), Siapa yang
\nSesungguhnya Melakukan Kudeta Terhadap Pemerintah Presiden
\nSoekarno (1987), (Who is the Real Protagonist of the Coup d'etat
\nAgainst Soekarno's Government), Regulasi Rejim Birokratik
\nMiliter: Kasus di Indonesia (1988) (Regulations in a Military
\nBureaucratic Regime: an Indonesian Case) and Bertarung Demi
\nDemokrasi (1990), (Vying for Democracy).<\/p>\n
The banning of books does not only happen in developing
\ncountries. It also happens in the so-called \"advanced\" countries
\nsuch as the United States. The difference is the number of books
\nbanned.<\/p>\n
The writer is an editor in a publishing company in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Table: Books banned over the last five years<\/p>\n
No. Title Writer Publisher Date of ban
\n ----------------------------------------------------------------------
\n 1. Madame D. Syuga Fuji Hideki Kabushiki Nov 8, 1993<\/p>\n
Kai-sha Sukora
\n 2. Primadosa Wimanjaya Yayasan Eka Jan 24, 1994<\/p>\n
Fakta Kota
\n 3. Presiden Ikut Abuya SIAMKA Al Arqam Indon. Aug 6, 1994<\/p>\n
Jadwal Allah
\n 4. Nyanyi Sunyi Pramoedia A.T. Lentera Apr 19, 1995<\/p>\n
Seorang Bisu
\n 5. Memoar Oei Tjoe Tat Oei Tjoe Tat Hasta Mitra Sep 25, 1995
\n 6. Bayang-Bayang PKI Imran Hasibuan Ins. Studi Apr 22, 1996<\/p>\n
Arus Kom.
\n 7. Era Baru Pemimpin Soebadio S. Soebadio S. Mar 4, 1997<\/p>\n
Baru<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cultural-approach-needed-on-books-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }