APSN | Residents and FPI protest 'communist' book discussion in Semarang

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Residents and FPI protest 'communist' book discussion in Semarang

Jakarta Globe - February 17, 2014

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Surabaya police bans 'communist' book talk on Tan Malaka after FPI protest - Jakarta Globe. February 8, 2014
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Jakarta – The apparent controversy surrounding a book on independence fighter and former communist party member Tan Malaka grew on Monday after protesters in Central Java attempted to shut down a second discussion group.

"They never asked for a permit and the number of participants who would be present at the discussion was not clear," said Endah Sulistya, a neighborhood chief in Bendan Ngisor, Semarang, as quoted by the state-run Antara news agency on Monday.

Endah said that some residents objected to previous events organized by Komunitas Seni Hysteria because of the noise and traffic caused by the extra number of cars parked in the area.

The Central Java branch of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and Laskar Merah Putih also objected to the event, while another activist group sent 20 volunteers to meet with the organizers to make their objection known.

Monday's event in Semarang was supposed to discuss "Tan Malaka, Gerakan Kiri, Dan Revolusi Indonesia, September 1948-Desember 1949" ("Tan Malaka, The Leftist Movement and Indonesian Revolution, Sept. 1948 - Dec. 1949") by renowned Dutch historian Harry A. Poeze.

Tan Malaka was a member of Indonesia's communist party and a proponent of a syncretism between Islam and Marxism. He was executed by Indonesian military forces in 1949 but was later named a national hero by former president Sukarno.

Organizing committee member, Yunantyo Adi, said that those who objected to the event should join the discussion and express their views in an open forum, rather than shut down debate.

The head of the intelligence division of Semarang Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Amad Sukandar said police had suggested that the organizers find another location. "There is an official letter to the police concerning the rejection," Amad said.

The event organizer had planned to conduct the discussion at Gerobak Arts, Jalan Stonen, Gajah Mungkur subdistrict, in Semarang at 7 p.m. "A group of 20 police officers came here asking us to delay the discussion," Yunantyo said as quoted by news portal Merdeka.com on Monday.

Semarang Police have prepared one platoon of officers to prevent any clashes between the participants and protesters. Yunantyo said his organization was considering moving the event to a university campus.

This is not the first time that a discussion group on this particular text has run into difficulties.

Earlier in February, a reading group was canceled by the organizer after Surabaya Police declined to issue a permit, ostensibly on security grounds. The FPI protested the planned discussion group, and followed up its protest with messages on social media alleging that the reading group was a front for a meeting of Indonesian communists.