Book on riot banned

SEMARANG: The military has banned a book on the July 27 riots in Jakarta written by the unrecognized Alliance of Independent Journalists and Studi Arus Informasi.

Diponegoro Military Commander Maj. Gen. Subagyo H.S. said yesterday the book had been banned because it was "published by institutions that the government does not recognize."

"If the institutions are banned, so are their products," Subagyo said.

The book tells of the riot that was triggered by the brutal takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party headquarters by government-supported party rebels last year.

Five people were killed, dozens of buildings burned down and 22 people went missing, according to the National Commission on Human Rights.

The government has repeatedly denied allegations that it backed the raid on the party headquarters. (har)