A number of writers and literacy activists have condemned the recent bans on leftist books ordered by the military in an apparent attempt to prevent a feared revival of communism.

“Banning books in this era is a triple dose of stupidity as people can simply find them on the internet,” said senior journalist and prolific writer Goenawan Mohamad on Friday.

“What exactly is the goal of this stupidity, if not to increase communism-phobia and fear and insecurity? In other words, they want to restore the security apparatus to control us. If that happens, not only civil society, but also the creative community could be suppressed,” he added.

He said the idea of a communist revival was nonsense as the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) had long ago died out in the country and if people wanted to revive it, it would have happened a decade ago.

Members of the 0505 East Jakarta Military District Command (Kodim) seized several books entitled Palu Arit di Ladang Tebu (Hammer and Sickle in the Sugar Cane Field) written by Hermawan Sulistyo from a store in Dewi Sartika Street, Cawang, Jakarta, on May 3. Several T-shirts featuring a hammer-and-sickle logo were also confiscated at the time.

In Ternate, North Maluku, the 1501 Ternate Military Command arrested four activists of the Alliance of Indigenous People (AMAN), apparently because they were in possession of books and T-shirts related to leftist movements. The activists’ books were confiscated.

“I don’t know how to face this except by fighting. If there’s a restriction on discussion, we hold more discussions. If there’s a ban on a book, we write more books,” Goenawan added.

Anton Kurnia, another writer and translator, stated that in 2010 the Constitutional Court had annulled the 1963 law on monitoring printed materials with content that could jeopardize public order, therefore, he added, the military and police had no right to seize those books.

Anton said the government had often misused the 1966 decree of the Temporary People’s Consultative Assembly that prevented the dissemination of communism, Leninism and Marxism in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Ronny Agustinus of Marjin Kiri publishing house said that the officials had never explained the precise criteria for banning books. “So, we feel that this intimidation has been done just to show off their authority to us, as if they decide what is allowed or not,” he said.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) was known for its dwifungsi (dual role) concept during the New Order regime, which ended in 1998 with then president Soeharto stepping down from power. In that era, the TNI was commonly involved in politics and business.

However, the military has recently been more involved once again in public affairs, including in attempts to police events like demonstrations and evictions and to guard public infrastructure, such as railway stations, harbors and airports.

The writers and literacy activists presented their statements against book bans at the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) headquarters on Friday. Besides Goenawan, Anton and Ronny, writers Eliza Vitri Handayani and Okky Madasari, and also members of the DKJ such as Irawan Karseno and Yusi Avianto Pareanom, also attended. (vps/bbn)