Government bans book criticizing Soeharto

Government bans book criticizing Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): The government has banned a 23-page book written
by the 79-year-old former leader of the now defunct Indonesian
Socialist Party, Soebadio Sastrosatomo, for allegedly
"discrediting" President Soeharto.

In a decree signed by Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro,
Politik Dosomuko Rezim Orde Baru: Rapuh dan Sengsarakan Rakyat
(New Order Regime's politics of Dosomuko: Feeble and Tormenting
People) was branded "provocative and pejorative toward President
Soeharto".

Dosomuko is one of the names of the wayang character Rahwana,
a 10-faced king in the Ramayana epic.

The April 22 decree "prohibits anyone from keeping,
possessing, announcing, distributing, trading or reprinting the
book in Indonesia".

The book was first published this year by Pusat Dokumentasi
Politik "Guntur 49", Soebadio's own publication company which has
the address of his residence on Jl. Guntur No. 49 in South
Jakarta.

Dosomuko is Soebadio's second book banned by the government
after his 22-page book, Era Baru Pemimpin Baru, Badio Menolak
Rekayasa Regim Orde Baru (New Era New Leader, Badio Rejects the
New Order Regime's Engineering), was banned in March last year.

After the banning of Soebadio's first book, the government
charged his personal secretary, 34-year-old Rachmad Buchori, of
defaming the president through his involvement in the book's
publication.

Rachmad's case has yet to be resolved in the South Jakarta
District Court. If found guilty, Rachmad could face up to six
years in jail under Article 134 of the Criminal Code.

Soebadio himself, however, has not been charged.

Yesterday's ban brought a strong reaction from the Indonesian
Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) which called the
decision "a repressive measure against the rights of members of
society to express themselves".

"This kind of measure is only known in a country with an
authoritarian political system. So, actions and policies like
this must be condemned and stopped," the statement, signed by
executive director Hendardi, said. (aan)