What next after Magsaysay Controversy?

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The very repression of Pramoedya and Lekra is responsible for the growing sympathy toward Lekra and Pramoedya. It is unfortunate that such overwhelming sympathy is of no help to setting up a critical dialog on the history of Lekra.

Heryanto, Ariel (1995) “What next after Magsaysay Controversy?”, The Jakarta Post, August 31, 1995: 4.

keywords: Cold War, Jakarta Post, LEKRA, Magsaysay Award, PKI, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Socialist Realism

A Class Act

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“The last new factor here is that as these classes continue to form and the conflict between them increases, there exists no clear and effective institution for free and peaceful mediation or arbitration between them. This is largely a function of Indonesia’s political history. Quite simply the state has been too dominant for too long, with President Suharto alone at the centre. Today, the only thing everyone feels certain about is that this is Suharto’s last term. The result of this lack of an effective mechanism is that most conflicts in Indonesia have been resolved either through token ‘consensus’ or violence.”

Heryanto, Ariel (1994) “A Class Act”, Far Eastern Economic Review, June 16: 30.

keywords: anti-Chinese, class, Far Eastern Economic Review, ideology, labour, strike

Credibility of Judiciary under Public Scrutiny

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“The disavowal reached a climax on the day of the verdict was passed when crowds of young strangers appeared in the court building to meet Nurhayati and Sihol, two judges in Nuku’s trial. It turned out that these young people came to look for jobs listed in two fake advertisements. Then an ambulance arrived at the building intending to rescue Nurhayati, as requested by someone who identified himself as Sihol. Before long a Pizza Hut delivery service entered the scene, adding to the spectacle.”

Heryanto, Ariel (1994) “Credibility of Judiciary under Public Scrutiny”, The Jakarta Post, 5 May 1994: 1.

keywords: Jakarta Post, judiciary, Marsinah, Nuku Soleiman, Xanana Gusmao

Why should student activists be branded ‘un-Indonesian’?

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Heryanto, Ariel (1994) “Why should student activists be branded ‘un-Indonesian’?”, The Jakarta Post, January 12, 1994: 1.

keywords: colonial legacy, Jakarta Post, KUHP, post-colonial, prosecution, student activists

LEKRA reappraised

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‘LEKRA represents the first sustained attempt in modern Indonesian history to address what has been one of the major themes of world-wide intellectual and cultural history since the mid-nineteenth century. It was the first organisational response in Indonesia to the question of the relationship between a commitment to social and political change and the practice of art and literature’ (p.201).

Heryanto, Ariel (1987) “LEKRA reappraised”, book review, Inside Indonesia, 13 (Dec): 20.

keywords: book review, Inside Indonesia, Keith Foulcher, LEKRA