Ali Sadikin issues new book on his interviews

JAKARTA (JP): Noted book editor Ramadhan K.H. yesterday presented former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin with a belated 69th birthday gift -- a new book which is a compilation of a series of press interviews the controversial statesman has given.

The book, Pers Bertanya Bang Ali Menjawab (The Press Asks and Bang Ali Answers), is a collection of press articles on a wide range of issues Sadikin, or Bang Ali as he is more affectionately known, gave between 1981 and this year.

The tough talking Bang Ali is presented in the book the way he is projected in the Indonesian media -- always critical and sharp and very often controversial.

But as stated in the book's preface, Bang Ali, while corroborating the press interviews, he also expressed disappointment in that some of the articles had been cut, or that the interviewers failed to grasp the meaning.

"We should also bear in mind the condition under which the mass media had been working at the time ... The media print was indulging in self-censorship, the need to protect themselves."

Bang Ali has been a staunch critic of the government, and is the de facto leader of the Group of 50, a loose organization founded in 1981 linking former officials, scholars and religious leaders critical of the administration.

He was virtually barred from the Indonesian press between 1981 until 1990.

The 375-page new book attests to this fact also. Of the 54 press interviews published in 26 publications, one was held in 1981, another in 1990, and the rest were from the period of 1991 and 1995, when he was once again sought after for interviews.

Noted human rights lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, in his foreword to the book, said the period between 1982 and 1989 was void of any interviews. "It was probably because no journalist interviewed him, or some journalists did interview him but could not publish it."

The book is published by PT Dunia Pustaka Jaya.

Ramadhan, who with G. Dwipayana co-authored President Soeharto's 1989 biography Pikiran, Ucapan dan Tindakan Saya (My Thoughts, Sayings and Deeds) personally presented the book to Bang Ali at the latter's residence.

Among those attending the launching ceremony were noted politicians and human rights campaigners including Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Manai Sophiaan, Hoegeng Iman Santoso, A.M. Fatwa, Adnan Buyung Nasution, Todung Mulya Lubis, H.J.C. Princen, Mashuri, and Oei Tjoe Tat.

Sadikin's birthday was on July 7. (imn)