Mochtar returns Magsaysay award<\/p>\n
MANILA (Reuter): Indonesian writer Mochtar Lubis yesterday
\nreturned his Ramon Magsaysay Award in protest against award of
\nthe prize to a fellow Indonesian novelist whom he accused of
\nhelping suppress freedom in his country.<\/p>\n
Lubis, 73, handed back the gold medallion given him by the
\nPhilippine-based award foundation in 1958 as well $1,000 of the
\n$5,000 cash prize he won, promising to complete the amount later.<\/p>\n
Lubis, winner of the journalism and literature prize, was
\namong 26 Indonesian artists and writers who slammed the
\nfoundation's decision to name compatriot Pramoedya Ananta Toer
\nfor the same award this year.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, meanwhile, more than 150 Indonesian writers,
\njournalists and activists said in a statement they supported the
\nchoice of Pramoedya for the literature prize because of his
\n\"invaluable contribution\" to Indonesia's cultural and
\nintellectual life.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya's wife, Maemunah Thamrin, was to receive the award
\nfor her husband in a ceremony in Manila today.<\/p>\n
The award, Asia's version of the Nobel Prize and given in five
\ncategories annually to outstanding Asians and Asian-based
\norganizations, was established in 1958 in memory of Philippine
\nPresident Ramon Magsaysay, who died in an air crash in 1957.<\/p>\n
The foundation said Pramoedya had paid for his identification
\nwith the Indonesian communist movement by being jailed for 14
\nyears from 1965 to 1979.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya was an official affiliated with the now banned
\nIndonesia Communist Party that was blamed for an abortive coup
\nattempt in Indonesia in 1965. Most of his works are barred in his
\nhome country because of what the authorities considered as their
\nMarxism and communism teachings.<\/p>\n
Lubis said in handing back his prize: \"I protest because he
\nhad done very bad things against Indonesian writers and artists
\nwhen the Communist Party was in power with the late president
\nSukarno.<\/p>\n
\"He always agitated against the non-communist writers and
\nartists in Indonesia and even used very brutal words against them
\nlike 'total elimination'.\"<\/p>\n
Bienvenido Tan, chairman of the foundation's board of
\ntrustees, said the foundation chose Pramoedya, 70, for the prize
\nstrictly for his literary achievements.<\/p>\n
\"The award was done with a lot of study and reflection. The
\nfoundation has to stand by its position,\" Tan told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"The award to Mr. Pramoedya was given for his work in
\nliterature and without any political overtones.\"<\/p>\n
Tan, receiving the medal and cash from Lubis, told him: \"The
\naward remains forever yours. We shall hold it in trust for you in
\nthe hope that at some time in the future you will wish to reclaim
\nit (in) better times.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mochtar-returns-magsaysay-award-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}