Agent of illegal magazine launches book

JAKARTA (JP): Danang Kukuh Wardoyo, an office boy jailed when he was 19-years old for distributing an unlicensed publication, has launched a memoir recounting his experience in prison.

Danang, whose book is titled Dari Celah Bui: Tidurlah Akal Sehat (From Behind Prison Bars: Go to Sleep Common Sense), has compiled his notes from the time of his arrest on March 16, 1995, to his 20-month incarceration at four detention centers -- Jakarta Police Headquarters, the Pondok Bambu Center for delinquents, and Salemba and Tangerang state prisons for juveniles.

He was released Nov. 12, 1996.

Born in 1976, Danang, now a freshman at Atmajaya University's School of Psychology, was at a function of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) when he was arrested, together with AJI members Eko Maryadi and Ahmad Taufik.

All three were convicted of their roles in producing and distributing copies of the unlicensed Independen magazine.

Danang was working as an office boy for AJI at the time.

Ako and Ahmad have also finished their three-year sentences.

At the Thursday-evening book launching at Lontar Gallery, organized by AJI, there was also a presentation of the Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin Award to a team of Bernas newspaper reporters from Yogyakarta.

The award was given in recognition of their continued persistence in investigating the death of Muhammad Syafruddin, or commonly known as Udin.

Udin died in August last year, leaving a wife and two children behind, following an attack believed to be linked to his reports in Bernas on local corruption practices.

The award-winning group of 14 reporters have been dubbed the "White Kijang" team, named after the vehicle they use to scour the countryside for information in the case.

"Many of us have been pressured into resigning," one of the Bernas reporters said.

The 14 reporters each received a certificate and a share of the US$1,000 cash award.

According to AJI, the award will now be presented annually on Aug. 7 in commemoration of the anniversary of AJI, which was set up in 1994. (anr)