American publishers deplore censorship
American publishers deplore censorship
JAKARTA (JP): A visiting delegation from the Association of
American Publishers yesterday called for an end to censorship in
Indonesia and more respect for writers' and journalists' rights
to express their views without fear of intimidation.
After a week-long stay here, Wendy Wolf, the chair of the
Association's International Freedom to Publish Committee,
expressed the delegation's concern about restrictions on writers
and journalists in Indonesia.
She said that while it was encouraging to see people talking
openly about restrictions on freedom of expression, it was
troubling to see "three journalists sitting in a prison in
Cirebon for their reporting and more than 2,000 books banned from
circulation."
Wendy was referring to Eko Maryadi, Ahmad Taufik -- both from
the unrecognized Aliance of Independent Journalists -- and
Triagus Siswowihardjo from Pijar foundation.
The association's 11 member delegation came here to study
freedom of expression in Indonesia.
The delegation includes fiction writer Barbara Thompson Davis,
novelist Lawrence Thornton, novelist and anthropologist at
Colombia University Amitav Ghosh and Editor-in-Chief of William
Morrow and Company William Schwalbe.
During their stay they met many people, including fellow
writers, journalists and academics. They also met the National
Human Rights Commission and the Indonesian Publishers
Association.
However government officials seemed reluctant to see them.
Attorney General Singgih refused to meet the group and Minister
of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro canceled an
already-scheduled meeting.
"In many countries, repressive governments censor books for
content which they fear may incite public unrest. In Indonesia
books are censored not only for what they contain but for who
their authors are," Wendy said, adding that "the culture of fear
often leads too often to self-censorship."
The delegation said that the conditions, in which government
offices like the Attorney General's Office could ban
publications, bred a climate of fear where publishers refused to
print "critical" books, booksellers refused to sell them and
people were even afraid to have the books in their homes.
Particular concern was expressed for those under various
restrictions, such as the famous writer, Pramoedya Ananta Toer,
who suffers travel and publication bans.
The publishers delegation said that during their meetings they
heard about very real, ominous problems that writers encounter in
everyday life. These included censorship, books being banned,
people being harassed for reading the books and of academics
being cramped in their intellectual pursuits.
"All which are unacceptable practices in the international
community of words and ideas," said Wendy who is also a senior
editor with Penguin U.S.A..
"Perhaps most distressing of all, we heard about words that
are no longer written or spoken because writers are either afraid
to write what they think, or because someone has told them that
they cannot," she remarked.
The delegation said that after the trip it would meet U.S.
government officials and businesses to inform them about the
state of freedom of expression in Indonesia. (mds)