Attacks on left-wing books in Indonesia

[Philip Ferguson <plf13@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From Tom O'Lincoln:



Could you please post this short note?

Attacks on leftwing books in Indonesia

Groups claiming to be Islamic have burnt books, and more importanty warned
Indonesian bookshops that if thet carry "Communist" books they will be
attacked. The big Gramedia chain, linked to major media outlets, has removed
many books from its shelves. It began in Jakarta but has now started
happening in other cities.

The books include the works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia's greatest
living writer, who was imprisoned by the Suharto regime.  They also include
reprints of works by Tan Malaka, an important figure in the early Comintern
and also in the Indonesian independence struggle, as well as a non-communist
(indeed anti-communist) but intelligent introduction to Marxism by a
Christian figure, Franz Magnis Suseno.

One of my own books is also affected: my translation of John Molyneux's
"What is the Real Marxist Tradition" is off the shelves, and the publishers
have just written to me: "Dark phone calls all the time. Threats and
terrorising." They are looking for a safe place to stash the book stocks.

Journalists, writers and other public figures and activists are now
responding. The Alliance for Freedom of Thought and Speech has been formed.
Its spokewoman is Ratna Sarumpaet, whose plays were banned by Suharto. The
group has condemned the rightwing attacks, which the authorities are doing
nothing about.

Wherever you are, it can't hurt to contact the local Indonesian consulate
and let them know the whole world is watching.