Destruction of books condemned
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI) condemned on Friday a planned sweep and burning of "leftist" books and rejected any ban against them.
"In principle, we oppose any ban on books, even if they contain pornographic or communist content. But if the ban is unavoidable, it should be made through a court ruling, not a a political decision," IKAPI chairman Arselan told a media conference at the association's office in Central Jakarta.
He said IKAPI also urged the government to repeal Law No. 4/1963, which bans printed goods that are considered disruptive to public order, saying that it is against democracy and hampers efforts to develop civil society.
Some anticommunist groups under the Anticommunist Coalition (AAK) have threatened to remove "leftist" books from their shelves and burn them on May 20, in conjunction with National Awakening Day. The government has responded to the threats by warning the groups against conducting such activities.
Also present at the press conference was Indonesian Book Store Association (GATBI) chairman Firdaus Umar, who said the threats would only further burden the crisis-hit book stores.
"In nearly a decade, the number of book stores in the country has dropped from about 3,000 to only 350. If the sweep materializes, I am afraid there will be more book stores closed," he said.
One AAK figure, Eggi Sudjana, joined the chorus of criticism against the threat to sweep and burn the "leftist" books, but fell short of condemning the planned move.
"I don't agree with the plan to sweep and burn books, but I disagree with any plan to revoke a People's Consultative Assembly decree that bans communism. As a Muslim, I hate communism," he said.
Eggi accused the government of double standards on the issue by allowing the publication of the "leftist" books while maintaining the Assembly decree No. XXV/1966.
Eggi was speaking in a discussion which also featured senior journalist Goenawan Mohammad, political observer Asvi Warman Adam and scholar Franz Magnis-Suseno.
Goenawan deplored the way book stores and the public reacted to the anticommunist groups' threats.
"Removing the books from shelves is an illustration of our deep fears. Fight the acts, don't let our excessive fears repress our freedom of speech and freedom of thought," he said.
Franz said he had yet to decide whether he would file a complaint against AAK members, who have burned his book titled Pikiran Karl Marx: Dari Sosialisme Ke Perselisihan Revisionisme (Karl Marx's Thoughts: From Socialism to the Revisionism Dispute).
"I don't even know whether they have violated my basic right to express ideas. I'm just waiting," he said.
Meanwhile, Central Java Police have pledged to take strict measures against any move to sweep "leftist" books.
Police chief Insp. Gen. Erwin M.A.P. said his personnel would not hesitate to arrest those raiding bookstores and burning books.
"We have received reports that there are a group of people who have confiscated books on communism, but we have yet to identify them," Erwin said in Purwokerto. (02/45/bby/emf)