Government bans Oei autobiography<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has banned Oei Tjoe Tat's
\nautobiography five months after its launching on the grounds the
\ncontents could create public unrest.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Singgih told reporters after meeting with
\nPresident Soeharto at Merdeka Palace yesterday that he issued a
\ndecree to prohibit the publication, distribution, and possession
\nof Memoar Oei Tjoe Tat Pembantu Presiden Soekarno (Memoirs of Oei
\nTjoe Tat, Assistant of President Sukarno) on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The book contains misleading and perverting information and
\ndegrades the government and leaders of the New Order
\nadministration. The book could mislead the younger generation
\nabout the government of Indonesia,\" Singgih said.<\/p>\n
Oei Tjoe Tat was one of the cabinet members rounded up by the
\nmilitary when Sukarno's government was dissolved in 1966 at the
\npeak of political turmoil which had its origins in the communist-
\nbacked attempted coup of September 1965.<\/p>\n
Oei was tried and convicted by a court for playing a role in
\nthe abortive coup. He was released in December 1977.<\/p>\n
Chief spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Pontas
\nPasaribu, said that the decree was made after a recent evaluation
\nmeeting of the Clearing House, a forum of experts set up to
\ngather opinions and find solutions for critical issues.<\/p>\n
\"The decree was issued after studying the various reactions
\nfrom the public toward the book,\" he added.<\/p>\n
One protest came last month from leaders of Fosko 66, a forum
\ngrouping former student leaders who took part in the 1966 street
\ndemonstrations that led to the downfall of Sukarno.<\/p>\n
\"The book contains provocative messages and irrelevant
\ninformation dangerous to the younger generation,\" Fosko 66
\nchairman Sumarno Dipodisastro said at that time.<\/p>\n
Fosko 66 also invited Oei to discuss their challenge to the
\naccuracy of some of the information in the book, but the author
\nrefused to change the contents.<\/p>\n
The book was first launched in April chiefly among Oei's close
\nfriends. It was co-edited by writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, this
\nyear's recipient of the Magsaysay Award for journalism and
\nliterature, who himself served many years' of hard labor for
\nallegedly spreading Marxist ideas.<\/p>\n
The memoirs, which were written by Oei Tjoe Tat 10 years ago,
\nwere originally intended for his family and close friends. \"It
\nwas meant as an explanation of my past political experiences to
\nmy children and grandchildren,\" Oei said during the book
\nlaunching.<\/p>\n
Upon the urging of friends, however, the book was reprinted
\nand made available to a wider audience.<\/p>\n
The autobiography has reportedly been widely distributed in
\nIndonesia and abroad. The publisher, Hasta Mitra, has already
\nreprinted the book three times to keep up with domestic demand.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-bans-oei-autobiography-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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