Press freedom fighter, writer, Mochtar Lubis passes away<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The nation mourned as noted writer-journalist Mochtar Lubis
\npassed away on Friday at the Medistra Hospital in Jakarta due to
\nlung disease.<\/p>\n
Born on March 7, 1922, in Padang, West Sumatra, Mochtar was a
\ncelebrated novelist and respected journalist who co-founded the
\nIndonesia Raya daily in 1949.<\/p>\n
\"Mochtar was a giant in Indonesian journalism. I will always
\nremember him if I think about press freedom,\" the daily's former
\nmanaging editor Atmakusumah Astraadmadja told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Mochtar was jailed for nine years by the regime of first
\npresident Sukarno from 1957 to 1966 due to his critical writing
\nas the daily's chief editor.<\/p>\n
He was jailed in Madiun, East Java, along with other
\nnationalist figures, including Sjahrir, Mohammad Roem and
\nSoebadio Sastrosatomo, who were critical of Sukarno.<\/p>\n
The regime backed by the military then led by Gen. AH Nasution
\nbanned the daily six times after 1957.<\/p>\n
The daily's reports that caused the government's anger
\nincluded the affair of Sukarno with Hartini, whom he eventually
\nmarried. The reports led to his earlier wife, Fatmawati, leaving
\nthe presidential palace.<\/p>\n
The daily also reported a case of suspected bribery involving
\nformer prime minister Roeslan Abdulgani and some businessmen.<\/p>\n
Under the New Order, president Soeharto permitted Indonesia
\nRaya to resume publication in 1968 but banned it in 1974
\nfollowing the daily's report on corruption in state oil and gas
\ncompany Pertamina.<\/p>\n
\"After that, we decided not publish the daily again. But
\nMochtar always spoke out about press freedom. I will miss him,\"
\nAtmakusumah said.<\/p>\n
He said Mochtar could not be separated from Indonesia Raya,
\nlike BM Diah with Merdeka daily, Rosihan Anwar with Pedoman and
\nSuardi Tasrif with Abadi.<\/p>\n
Mochtar joined Antara state news agency as a journalist in
\n1945 and cofounded the Horison literary magazine. He received the
\nRamon Magsasay Award from the Philippines for his work in
\njournalism and literature in 1974.<\/p>\n
He has written several novels, including his most popular
\nHarimau, Harimau! (Tiger, tiger!), Senja di Jakarta (An evening
\nin Jakarta) and Jalan Tak Ada Ujung (Endless Road).<\/p>\n
He also chaired the Obor Indonesia Foundation which published
\nquality books on literature, philosophy, the environment and the
\nsocial sciences.<\/p>\n
Mochtar's wife Halimah died at the age of 77 on Aug. 27, 2001.
\nHis funeral is planned for Saturday afternoon at the Jeruk Purut
\ncemetery in South Jakarta, family members said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/press-freedom-fighter-writer-mochtar-lubis-passes-away-1447893297",
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