Banned books for academics

Banned books for academics

JAKARTA (JP): Books which are banned by the government because of their political contents should be made available to academic circles in Indonesia, the State Minister of National Development Planning Board said yesterday.

Ginandjar Kartasasmita said scholars should be given access to such books for their studies.

"If Salman Rushdie's book is said to offend religion, at least students at the Institute of Islamic Studies should be allowed to read it," he said in opening a three-day First National Book Congress at Hotel Indonesia.

He was referring to Rushdie's Satanic Verses, which has been banned in Indonesia, as well as in most other Moslem countries because the book is considered blasphemous to Islam.

The government has also banned all books with communist teachings, or anything that smacks of communism.

The latest book banned was Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu (Silent Song of a Mute), by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, in April. (anr)