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Condemning massive attack against Indonesia's freedom of expression

Open Statement - October 24, 2015

Indonesia's freedom of expression and critical thinking are under attack. Series of repressive and violent acts by the authorities against attempts to critically revisit and review the 1965 communist purge for the betterment of the nation and its people are a strong proof that the totalitarian legacy from the New Order Regime is still alive and kicking.

Suharto may be gone but the guards of the old regime are still watching the people's move, and in many cases, launching oppressive action to shut down people's freedom.

In just one week, we have seen numbers of evidence.

The recent arbitrary arrest, as well deportation and blacklist of Tom Iljas in Sumatra by local police and immigration for visiting his father's grave – the victims of the 1965 mass murders – is a blatant example of such New Order spirit, a state crime against its own citizens. The subsequent terror against Tom Iljas's family by respective village chief and sub-district head shows the die-hard sick mentality of state officials.

Then The Lentera student magazine was forced to withdraw its latest edition from circulation for publishing stories about the 1965 killings in Salatiga, Central Java. Three the university students were taken to the police station and interrogated.

We have also witnessed other events that discussed different aspects of 1965 being cancelled or attacked both by civilians or law enforcers in different parts of Indonesia (Banyuwangi, Solo, Bukittinggi etc.). These incidents are definite proofs of threat and absence of protection to freedom of expression in Indonesia.

And most recently, the fact that Ubud Writers and Readers Festival has also been intimidated by local and national authorities to cancel any programs related to the 1965 mass killings is a testament that the state officials are watching the citizens' every move, and also highlight increasing repression against civilians and creativity.

We, writers, journalists, artists and activists, join together to condemn this growing repression against people's freedom of expression and the shutting down of critical thinking by using New Order Regime's repressive ways.

We urge:

1. Indonesian Police and their officers at provincial, district and sub-district level, especially in Bali, Salatiga and Padang to respect people's constitutional and basic rights for freedom of expression. They must stop any action to ban or cancel any discussion or seminar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1965 tragedy because all discussion and discourse about the upheaval must be seen as a part of national reconciliation, which has been pledged by President Joko Widodo's administration.

2. Reject and cancel any immigration measure (deportation, blacklist) against Tom Iljas, based on the fact that Tom Iljas and his family are innocent and have not committed any legal or immigration-related violations.

3. President Joko Widodo and Indonesian Government together with local authorities to provide protection and guarantee the safety of those who wish and plan to discuss, review and investigate the 1965 tragedy from all kinds of censorship, intimidation and terrors

4. Groups and individuals who have been involved in violent acts against discussions on the1965 tragedy to restrain themselves and open dialogue to allow for the peaceful solution of the national tragedy

We believe that after 50 years the nation urgently needs an open, transparent and honest investigation and discussions on the 1965 Communist mass murder and its aftermath events that have claimed millions of lives and brought misery to millions of others.

The family of the victims must receive justice they deserve to get, while we believe that it's best for the institutions allegedly involved in the crimes to clean their name once and for all to allow them embrace the better future. It's the best interest of the nation and its people if the massacre is cleared from surrounding dust and that justice is given to both the perpetrators and victims.

Contact:

Signatories:

1. Okky Madasari – Writer/Founder of ASEAN Literary Festival
2. Faiza Marzoeki – Playwright, Theater Producer and Director of Institut Ungu
3. Aquino Hayunta – Indonesian Art Coalition
4. Tunggal Pawestri – BITES
5. Yulia Evina Bhara – Partisipasi Indonesia
6. Dhyta Caturani – Activist
7. Felencia Hutabarat – Indonesian Art Coalition
8. Damar Juniarto – Social Blogger
9. Abdul Khalik – Journalist/Founder of ASEAN Literary Festival
10. Joshua Oppenheimer – Filmmaker
11. Iin Purwanti – Alumni of FIB UI
12. Amerta Kusuma – KawanKawan Film
13. Fanny Chotimah – Writer/Filmmaker
14. Mary Farrow – Activist/Coordinator of Emerald Community House Australia
15. Yuliana Sandy Aryani – Alumni of FIB UI 16. Yerry Wirawan – Alumni of FIB UI
17. Musita Hartanti – Alumni of FIB UI
18. Umar Idris – Alumni of FIB UI/Journalist
19. Bonnie Triyana – Chief Editor Historia Magazine.
20. Amatul Rayyani Siddiqah – Journalist
21. Atmakusumah Astraatmadja – Press Observer/Lecturer on Journalism
22. Vivi Widyawati – Politik Rakyat
23. Mutiara Ika Pratiwi – Perempuan Mahardhika
24. Aryo Wisanggeni – AJI Indonesia
25. Arfi Bambani – AJI Indonesia
26. Yudi Adiyatna – Youth Pro Active TII
27. Grace Tobing – Indonesia Against Human Trafficking (FIGHT)
28. Iman D Nugroho – AJI Indonesia
29. Afra Suci Ramadhan – Pamflet
30. Nabilla Reysa – Pamflet
31. Niesrina Nadhifah – Kontras
32. Amira Hasna – Youth Rights Now
33. Qory Dellasera – Activist
34. Annayu Maharani – Indonesian Art Coalition
35. Oming Putri – Indonesian Art Coalition
36. Abduh Aziz – Indonesian Art Coalition
37. Indah Yusari – Pamflet
38. Justian Edwin – Pamflet
39. Ardi Yunanto – visual artist
40. Qorihani – Alumni of Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Indonesia 41. Muhammad Faisal Bustamam – Videomaker/Activist
42. Veronica Iswinahyu – Activist
43. Prathiwi W. Putri – Kampung Kota
44. Rahung Nasution – food culture activist & videomaker
45. Wilson Obrigados – Writer
46. Yasmin Purba – YLBHI
47. Mugiyanto – INFID
48. Wisnu Surya Pratama – Film maker
49. Dwi Sujanti Nugraheni – Filmmaker
50. Dinda Nuurannisaa Yura – Women's Rights Activist
51. Sinnal Blegur – Perkumpulan Praxis
52. Ibeth Koesrini -Activist
53. Kurnia Yudha F – Filmmaker
54. Efi Sri Handayani – Filmmaker
55. Vera Lestafa – Filmmaker
56. Shelly W.M – Activist
57. Agnes Gurning – Activist
58. Lukman Simbah – citizen
59. Zico Mulia – citizen
60. Isti Komah – Nawit Women Group
61. Yolandri Simanjuntak – Citizen
62. Shinta Miranda – Writer
63. Soe Tjen Marching – Writer and activist
64. Dede Dyandoko Kendro – citizen
65. Kurniawan- Journalist 66. Ranggoaini Jahja – Activist
67. Ririn Sefsani – Small Earth Community
68. Arman Dhani – Writer
69. Asfinawati – Public lawyer
70. Gustaff H Iskandar – Common room
71. Wenny Mustikasari – citizen
72. Andreas Iswinarto – Galeri Lentera Pembebasan
73. Ajar Pamungkas – Warga Yogyakarta
74. Jess Melvin – The University of Melbourne, Australia
75. Christina Yulita – citizen
76. Dolorosa Sinaga – Artist/Lecturer Faculty of Fine Art of Jakarta Institute of the Arts
77. Elisabeth Ida Mulyani – Artist, Belgium
78. Kresna Astraatmadja
79. Todung Mulya Lubis – Lawyer
80. Josefin Morge – Chairperson VIF, Left Forum Sweden
81. Brad Simpson – Historian, University of Connecticut, USA
82. Peter Boyle, Green Left Weekly, Australia
83. Debbie Prabawati – Activist/Researcher
84. Jeffrey A. Winters – Professor of Politics/Director of the Equality Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS) Program Northwestern University, USA
85. Tamara Pearson – Journalist/Author of The Butterfly Prison
86. Tom Iljas – Sweden
87. Joanne Faulkner – Lecturer in Women's and Gender Studies, UNSW, Australia
88. John Pilger – Writer/Filmmaker/Journalist
89. Pip Hinman – Journalist/Activist Australia
90. Professor Ariel Heryanto – Australia
91. Grace Leksana – Institut Sejarah Sosial Indonesia 92. Dr. Max Lane – Melbourne, Australia
93. Imelda Liliyanti – ILUNI FIB UI
94. Ratu Febriana Erawati – ILUNI FIB UI
95. Jemma Purdey – Herb Feith Foundation
96. Herlambang P. Wiratraman – Coordinator Serikat Pengajar HAM Indonesia
97. Chris Nash – Journalism Professor, Monash University, Australia
98. Wendy Bacon – Journalist, Australia
99. Signe Byrge Sxrensen – Filmmaker, Denmark
100. Max White – Amnesty International, USA
101. Prof. Dr Saskia E. Wieringa – University of Amsterdam
102. Stanley Adi Prasetyo – Journalist
103. Andreas Harsono – Human Rights Watch researcher on Indonesia
104. Mery Kolimon – Koordinator Jaringan Perempuan Indonesia Timur
105. Bilven – Ultimus Publishing
106. Dr. Annie Pohlman – The University of Queensland, Australia
107. Ayu Wahyuniengroem – University of Indonesia
108. Raihana Diani – Acehnese
109. Soraya Oktaviani – Indonesia untuk Kemanusiaan
110. Brad Adams – Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
111. Dodi Yuniar – Asia Justice and Rights
112. Sangdenai – Freelance Writer
113. Edo Wulia – minikino.org
114. Tria Nin – Writer
115. Lini Zurlia – Activist
116. Anggun Pradesha – SWARA 117. Data RB – nefos.org
118. Kartika Pratiwi – Kotakhitam Forum
119. Shita Laksmi – ICT and Open Governance Activist
120. Dewi Chandraningrum – Lecturer, writer, academic
121. A. Dananjaya – Kotakhitam Forum
122. Dimas D Saputra – Kotakhitam Forum
123. Aquido Adri – Kotakhitam Forum
124. Kyq Sallata – Kotakhitam Forum
125. Berto Tukan – Writer and cultural activist
126. Olin Monteiro – Feminist, Peace women across the globe Indonesia
127. Afnaldi Syaiful – Activist
128. Anton Muhajir – Blogger
129. Tri Em – citizen
130. Eddi Prayitno – Indonesia Center of Deradicalism and Wisdom
131. Dr. Jordana Silverstein- Historian, University of Melbourne, Australia
132. Dr. Ian Wilson – Academic, Murdoch University, Australia
133. Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, Chair, YLBHI Board of Trustee
134. Ellin Rozana – Institut Perempuan
135. Whisnu Yonar – Activist
136. Bivitri Susanti – Legal Reform Activist/Academician
137. Susan Price – National Co-Convenor Sosialist Alliance, Australia
138. Andy Budiman – SEJUK
139. Agustine – Ardhanary
140. Dr. Reihana Mohideen – Senior Researcher Fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia
141. Dr. Rebecca Conroy – Independent Scholar & Art Worker
142. Eva Simanjuntak – Alumni FIB UI 143. Yudi Bahcrioktora Alumni FIB UI
144. Saras Dewi – Dosen dan Alumni FIB UI
145. Ery Sandra Amelia – Journalist/Film maker
146. Ratih Kumala – Writer
147. Laksmi Pamuntjak – Writer
148. Choo Chon Kai – Deputy Secretary-General of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
149. Janet de neefe – Director of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
150. Rita Djayusman- Pegawai Swasta
151. Eni Simatupang – Mahasiswa
152. Valentina Sri Wijayati – Citizen
153. Marlon Rumambi – Citizen
154. Dadang Chrisanto – Artist
155. Rio Tuasikal – KBR 68H
156. Doni Suryono PSH – Citra Nusantara News media
157. Wida Semito – Citizen
158. Irna Permanasari – Writer/Editor
159. Dr. Wijaya Herlambang – Lecturer/Writer/Musician
160. Wahyu Susilo – Aktivis Buruh Migran
161. Christina Yulita – Relawan Pelurusan Sejarah
162. Lily Sugianto – Ardhanary
163. Khanis Suvianita – Gaya Nusantara
164. Slamet Raharjo – GWL INA
165. Aan Anshori – Islamic Network Against Discrimination (JIAD) East Java
166. Valent Mustamin – founder idwriters.com
167. Indraswari Agnes – Poligrabs 168. Arthit Suriyawongkul – Activist, Thailand
169. Agus Januraka – Denpasar
170. Yuda Kurniawan – Filmmaker
171. Sandyawan Sumardi – Humanitarian Activist, Ciliwung Merdeka
172. Feri Kesuma – Human Rights activist KontraS

Source: http://www.alineatv.com/2015/10/condemning-massive-attack-against-indonesias-freedom-of-expression/.

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