Chile to honor Pramoedya

JAKARTA: The president of Chile will present an award to noted Indonesian novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer during the 100th anniversary commemoration of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Embassy of Chile here asserted that Pramoedya, whose books were banned by former strongman Soeharto, is a very important and influential individual in Indonesian literature.

Pramoedya will be among 100 noted poets and novelists around the world to receive awards from Chile, the embassy said.

He has won 40 awards from local and international institutions. The latest award was received from the Norwegian Writers' Association in June. --JP