Raiding bookstores<\/p>\n
Your editorial of May 5, 2001, A new witch-hunt?, relates to
\nthe threat by the Islam Youth Movement (GPI), a member of the so-
\ncalled \"Anti-Communist Alliance\", to raid bookstores in Jakarta
\nwhich don't cleanse their shelves of \"communist\" books. (Some of
\nGramedia's staff apparently think this includes the books of
\nPramoedya Ananta Toer). One wonders whether even one of the GPI
\nmembers can explain what a \"communist\" book is?<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post's proposed remedy is not to forestall such
\nthreatened action, but rather for the Indonesian government to
\nban \"certain material from being published and circulated\". I
\nwonder whether you give the same advice to the Indonesian
\njournalists who are attacked for their writings, i.e., that the
\ngovernment should determine whether their publications are
\nlegitimate?<\/p>\n
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes no distinction
\nbetween \"legal\", \"illegal\", \"communist\" or \"leftist\" writings,
\nnor between writings which are published in newspapers or
\npublished in books: \"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion
\nand expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions
\nwithout interference and to seek, receive and impart information
\nand ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers (Article
\n19)\".<\/p>\n
As a responsible newspaper, I hope that, in the future, you
\nwill be the first to uphold the right to freedom of expression of
\nall of your brethren. If today you ask the government to
\ndetermine what may be expressed in books, do not be surprised if
\nthat government bans you tomorrow.<\/p>\n
WILL JOURDIN<\/p>\n
Visiting Professor of Law<\/p>\n
Udayana University<\/p>\n
Denpasar, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/raiding-bookstores-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }