Award for Pramudya

The Jakarta Post, Aug. 4, 1995 quoted me as saying "...not only supported the ban but also demanded that the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation in Manila scrap its decision to grant the award to Pramudya."

I was amazed, I never said that, and never wrote anything to that effect. It was a gross misquotation, presumably done by some reporter in Rembang, Aug. 2, 1995, when Arief Budiman discussed the statement to be sent to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), signed by 26 Indonesian writers.

The draft of the statement that Arief gave to some reporters was in English, and he was not supposed to give it to anybody in the first place. It should have been embargoed until sent to Manila, Friday, Aug. 4, 1995, noon. However, it was my error that I did not forewarn him. The same gross misquotation was also printed in Suara Merdeka, Semarang, on Aug. 3, 1995.

In line with said statement, as one of its signatories, I would like to make myself clear here that I do not, I repeat, I do not seek revocation of the Magsaysay literary award for Pramudya, nor did I say that I support the ban. If I did, then I'd be aping the behavior of Lekra (People's Cultural Institute), the communist inspired organization. The statement tries to enlighten the RMAF on the role of Pramudya in suppressing the freedom of creativity during the "guided democracy" years.

Rechecking news sources is certainly the best way to avoid errors.

TAUFIQ ISMAIL

Jakarta