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Breaking the silence
“There’s no such thing as a moral or immoral book
“There’s no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are either well written or badly written,” says writer Oscar Wilde. In Indonesia, however, that’s not the case.
Although the emergence of indie books has supported people’s freedom to voice their ideas, writers still face restrictions as the government continues to ban certain books.
Just recently, we witnessed the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) ban five books deemed capable of disrupting political stability and spreading heretical religious teachings. The book ban sparked protests nationwide — from authors and rights activists, to historians and human rights bodies.
“I’m not allowed to write; my rights have been denied,” says Darmawan MM, the author of Enam Jalan Menuju Tuhan (Six Ways to Reach Gods), one of the five books recently banned.
“If others disagree [with my ideas], they should write their own books, have debates or hold discussions — they can’t just seal my lips to make me stop talking or tie my hands to make me stop writing,” he adds.
Darmawan is still fighting for his rights at the Constitutional Court, asking for a judicial review on the Article 30 of the 2004 AGO Law, which grants the body the authority to monitor printed materials.
The implementation of the monitoring authority, Darmawan argues, “has not been transparent or accountable”.
Besides Darmawan, author Rhoma Dwi Ariani Yualiantri also filed a judicial review recently on the 1963 Law on Securing Printed Publication that Contains Messages Disrupting Public Order. Rhoma’s book, Lekra Tak Pernah Membakar Buku: Suara Senyap Lembar Kebudayaan Harian Rakjat 1950-1965 (Lekra Never Burned Books), was also banned recently.
The other books just banned include Dalih Pembunuhan Massal Gerakan 30 September dan Kudeta Soeharto (Pretext of Mass Murder: The Sept. 30 Movement and the Soeharto Coup d’etat) by John Rossa, Mengungkap Misteri Keberagaman Agama (Resolving the Mystery of Religious Diversity) and Suara Gereja bagi Umat Tertindas: Penderitaan Tetesan Darah dan Air Mata Umat Tuhan di Papua Barat Harus Diakhiri (The Voices of Churches for Suppressed People: Blood and God’s Tears in West Papua must be Ended) by Cocrateze Sofyan Yoman.
Darmawan and Rhoma aren’t fighting alone. They have the support of activists, historians and human rights bodies.
“The book banning [carried out by the AGO] shows a return to New Order era tactics,” says Yosef Adi Prasetyo, commissioner of the National Commission of Human Rights. “Such bannings violate the 1999 Law on Human Rights and the 2005 Law on Civil and Political Rights.
“We’re currently studying the policies establishing the legal basis for book banning,” he adds.
