Govt bans Pramoedya's book<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has banned Pramoedya Ananta
\nToer's book Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu (Silent Song of a Mute),
\nalmost two months after it went on sale, citing that its content
\ncould create public unrest.<\/p>\n
The 319-page book \"contains misleading writings, which could
\ncreate the wrong opinion about the government of Indonesia,\"
\nAttorney General Singgih said in his decree, dated April 19,
\n1995.<\/p>\n
A copy of the decree was made available to the press
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Allowing the circulation of the book will cause commotion or
\nrestlessness, which can disturb public order,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Following the ban, all copies of the book, throughout
\nIndonesia, must be withdrawn from circulation. Those who have
\ncopies of the book must hand them in to the nearest prosecutor's
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors, police and other law enforcement officers, who
\nhave the authority to keep public order, must confiscate the
\nbooks, according to the decree.<\/p>\n
The government has already banned most of Pramoedya's works,
\nwhich were considered to have political messages of communism.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya was held, from 1965 to 1969, in the Salemba
\ndetention center in Jakarta, for alleged communist activities. He
\nlater spent 10 years in hard labor at Buru Island, Maluku.<\/p>\n
Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu, the first of two books, was
\npublished by Lentera of Jakarta in February this year in
\ncommemoration of his 70th birthday.<\/p>\n
It was first published in the Netherlands under the title of
\nLied van een Stomme, in 1988 and 1989, translated by A. van der
\nHelm and Angela Rookmaker.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya's other novels, written in Buru Island, were Bumi
\nManusia, Anak Semua Bangsa, and Jejak Langkah,. All have been
\nbanned by the government. (sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-bans-pramoedyas-book-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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