Govt bans Pramoedya's book

Govt bans Pramoedya's book

JAKARTA (JP): The government has banned Pramoedya Ananta Toer's book Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu (Silent Song of a Mute), almost two months after it went on sale, citing that its content could create public unrest.

The 319-page book "contains misleading writings, which could create the wrong opinion about the government of Indonesia," Attorney General Singgih said in his decree, dated April 19, 1995.

A copy of the decree was made available to the press yesterday.

"Allowing the circulation of the book will cause commotion or restlessness, which can disturb public order," he said.

Following the ban, all copies of the book, throughout Indonesia, must be withdrawn from circulation. Those who have copies of the book must hand them in to the nearest prosecutor's office.

Prosecutors, police and other law enforcement officers, who have the authority to keep public order, must confiscate the books, according to the decree.

The government has already banned most of Pramoedya's works, which were considered to have political messages of communism.

Pramoedya was held, from 1965 to 1969, in the Salemba detention center in Jakarta, for alleged communist activities. He later spent 10 years in hard labor at Buru Island, Maluku.

Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu, the first of two books, was published by Lentera of Jakarta in February this year in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

It was first published in the Netherlands under the title of Lied van een Stomme, in 1988 and 1989, translated by A. van der Helm and Angela Rookmaker.

Pramoedya's other novels, written in Buru Island, were Bumi Manusia, Anak Semua Bangsa, and Jejak Langkah,. All have been banned by the government. (sim)