History of Censorship in Indonesia
The history of censorship in Indonesia has evolved significantly from colonial times to the modern era, shaped by political upheaval and authoritarian governance. Following the end of Dutch colonial rule and Japanese occupation, Indonesia faced a turbulent political landscape after declaring independence in 1945. The establishment of martial law in 1957 marked the beginning of stringent control over expression, particularly under President Suharto’s New Order regime starting in 1965. During this period, a military body known as Kopkamtib was created to suppress dissent, and extensive censorship mechanisms were implemented across various media, including press, film, and literature.
Media was strictly regulated, with the government establishing a press law that limited freedoms and enforced adherence to the state ideology of Pancasila. This included blackouts on sensitive topics and prior censorship of books and films. Despite the existence of a limited number of press freedoms acknowledged in 1982, violations often resulted in severe penalties, including imprisonment. The censorship extended to foreign publications and university newspapers, which faced strict oversight. Overall, the Indonesian government maintained a tight grip on media and communication, seeking to promote national unity and suppress any opposition to its authority.
History of Censorship in Indonesia
Description: Southeast Asian archipelago that was the Dutch East Indies until 1949
Significance: Government leaders have often employed strict censorship of mass media outlets to maintain political stability and suppress dissent
After several centuries of Dutch rule, Indonesia was occupied by Japan in 1940. At the end of World War II, Indonesian nationalists declared the country’s independence. After independence was recognized in 1949, the country struggled through a politically unsettled period. Martial law was imposed in 1957. In 1965 under the leadership of anticommunist president Suharto and his New Order, the government was more strongly centralized and new organizations were formed to crush subversive groups. The following year a military agency called the Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order (Kopkamtib) began moving against underground antigovernment movements. Many arrested persons thought to be Muslim extremists never received trials.
Kopkamtib functioned as media censors and implemented new restrictions on the press. Economic sanctions further limited small presses. A government agency called SARA listed topics that could not be covered by the press and the information ministry used blackouts to keep unwanted topics out of the press. In 1985 Kopkamtib’s functions were reorganized within a body called the Coordinating Agency for National Stability (Bakorstanas).
In 1945 leaders seeking an egalitarian society had instituted a set of principles, known as Pancasila, that promoted belief in one God, humanitarianism, nationalist unity, consultative democracy, and social justice. In 1978 President Suharto sought to impose these principles on all citizens, especially children and civil servants, and an indoctrination program commenced. Looking to promote unity, stability, and development, the New Order monitored the press to guarantee that no issues would be raised to alter this process and a government press council set rules for what the press could and could not do.
A 1982 press law acknowledged minimal press freedoms, while outlawing communist, Marxist, and Leninist publications. It stated that the duty of the press was to strengthen the country by maintaining the ideology of Pancasila. Violators were sanctioned, beaten, or jailed. Bans were also placed on membership in the extremist Muslim and communist parties. Tight controls were placed on foreign publications, and two antigovernment university newspapers had their licenses revoked when they disregarded the rules.
Censorship was practiced in other media as well. Motion picture content, which had been curbed in colonial times, was also regulated under the Suharto Administration. During the 1970s only a single, government-controlled, television station existed. By the early 1990s there were eighteen government-owned stations and eight privately owned commercial television stations.
The government permitted several independent radio stations to broadcast programs, but screened them before airing and would not permit the stations to broadcast news. Instead, stations had to read fifteen-minute government-written news bulletins six times a day. Failure to comply would result in their being shut down. Books were censored prior to publication and could be banned after printing. All theatrical productions, public story readings, and films had to be cleared before presentation to Indonesian audiences.
Censorship after the Fall of Suharto
In 1998, following years of increased dissent and demonstrations against his regime as well as economic hardship, Suharto stepped down from the presidency. As the government began a long period of reformation, several of Suharto's censorship laws were repealed, opening the country up to greater freedom of speech and press. This state of diminished censorship lasted—for the most part—over the succeeding decades. However, in 2008, the Indonesian parliament passed an anti-pornography bill that many claimed was so vague that it left room for misuse and the possible persecution of artists and religious minorities. Additionally, in 2015, unprecedented censorship of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival brought attention to the issue once again. Commentators, shocked over the news that any programs involving the anti-Communist purges of 1965 would not be allowed at that year's festival, expressed concern that this extreme measure harkened back to the policies of the New Order.
Bibliography
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Pamuntjak, Laksmi. "Censorship is Returning to Indonesia in the Name of the 1965 Purges." Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 26 Oct. 2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
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