Indonesia_Raya_(newspaper)

<i>Indonesia Raya</i> (newspaper)

Indonesia Raya (newspaper)

1949–1974 Indonesian newspaper, repeatedly banned

Indonesia Raya was an Indonesian newspaper co-founded in 1949 by Mochtar Lubis. Before its permanent closure in 1974, it was banned numerous times during the Sukarno and Suharto governmental period.

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History

Indonesia Raya was co-founded in 1949 by Mochtar Lubis.[1] It received irregular funding from military intelligence officers[2] and operated under the opinion that, for the free press, the government was "adversary number one".[3] By 1956 its circulation was 40,000,[4] but after 1957 Indonesia Raya was banned six times.[1]

Lubis, the paper's editor, in c. 1955

In October 1958, Indonesia Raya was banned and Mochtar Lubis imprisoned.[5] The daily did not resume publication until 1968, when the New Order government permitted its publication.[1] Former employees and staff were asked to return and continue their work.[5]

Beginning in 1969, Indonesia Raya published many articles regarding corruption in Pertamina. Although some newspapers, including Kompas, supported Indonesia Raya, others claimed that Indonesia Raya had a conflict of interest with Pertamina and accused it of trying blackmail the oil company. Eventually, in August 1970 Indonesia Raya was told to desist their reports or face serious repercussions.[6]

Indonesia Raya covered the 1973 Thai student demonstrations and the downfall of the regime. This coverage has been suggested to have been one of the causes of the Malari incident.[7] In 1974, following the incident, Indonesia Raya was banned again; this was due in part to the newspaper's coverage of corruption in Pertamina.[1][5] Mochtar Lubis and several other journalists were imprisoned without a trial, while others were blacklisted.[5] It was eventually decided to discontinue the newspaper.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    A. Junaidi (3 July 2004). "Press freedom fighter, writer Mochtar Lubis passes away". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  2. [2]
    Hill 1994, p. 32
  3. [3]
    Kakiailatu 2007, p. 61
  4. [4]
    Kakiailatu 2007, p. 70
  5. [5]
    Badri Jawara (23 July 2002). "Press freedom 'still under threat'". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  6. [6]
    Hill 1994, p. 38
  7. [7]
    Hill 1994, pp. 153–154

Bibliography
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