Right activist says path he chose is hard<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Dutch-born human rights campaigner H.J.C.
\nPrincen celebrated his 70th birthday on Tuesday with a confession
\nthat the path he chose was rocky.<\/p>\n
At a reception, during which he launched a book recounting his
\nyears of standing in opposition to the government, he told 250
\nguests that life as an activist has not been easy.<\/p>\n
\"Should any of you wish to become activists, I can only tell
\nyou to forget dreams of living in wealth and prosperity,\"
\nPrincen, known also as Poncke, said.<\/p>\n
Activism offers another kind of life, he said. \"Living as an
\nactivist will give you a different kind of satisfaction.
\nHappiness emerges when we are able to help alleviate people's
\nsuffering, or the violence inflicted on them by authorities who
\nare abusing their power.\"<\/p>\n
Among his guests were leading dissidents Ali Sadikin and Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas. Human rights campaigners Adnan Buyung Nasution
\nand T. Mulya Lubis, and writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer were also
\npresent.<\/p>\n
Princen came to Indonesia in 1947 as a member of the Dutch
\nArmy, which was sent to crush the fledgling republic's guerrilla
\nwarfare against the Netherlands' attempts to reassert colonial
\nrule. He defected and later became an Indonesian citizen.<\/p>\n
\"I did that because I believed Indonesia should be free,
\nbecause every nation has the right to freedom,\" Princen said.<\/p>\n
In another part of his speech, Princen expressed regrets over
\nthe absence of political parties which defend the rights of
\nworkers, farmers and fishermen.<\/p>\n
\"The constitution guarantees people's rights to establish
\nparties,\" he said. \"Why don't we make use of this guarantee?\"<\/p>\n
The book, entitled H.J.C. Princen 70 Years: Untiring Guerrilla
\nWarfare, is a recollection of writings about Princen. Among the
\ncontributors are scholar Y.B. Mangunwijaya, Pramoedya Ananta
\nToer, former labor minister S.K. Trimurti, philosopher Franz
\nMagnis Suseno, and Xanana Gusmao, imprisoned leader of the
\nFretilin pro-independence movement in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The reception was organized by Sri Bintang Pamungkas.<\/p>\n
Ali Sadikin said he admired Princen's steadfastness in his
\nstruggle for human rights here, even though he was not born
\nIndonesian.<\/p>\n
Princen was jailed by Sukarno, Indonesia's first president,
\nand has also often earned the wrath of the current
\nadministration. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/right-activist-says-path-he-chose-is-hard-1447893297",
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