Indonesia Raya (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
Indonesia Raya was an Indonesia
n newspaper co-founded in 1949 by Mochtar Lubis
. Before its permanent closure in 1974, it was banned numerous times by both the Sukarno
and Suharto governments.
. It received irregular funding from military intelligence officers and operated under the opinion that, for the free press
, the government was "adversary number one". By 1956 its circulation was 40,000, but after 1957 Indonesia Raya was banned six times.
In October 1958, Indonesia Raya was banned and Mochtar Lubis imprisoned. The daily did not resume publication until 1968, when the New Order
government permitted its publication. Former employees and staff were asked to return and continue their work.
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.
Indonesia Raya covered the 1973 Thai student demonstrations and the downfall of the regime. This has been suggested to have been one of the causes of the Malari incident
.
In 1974, Indonesia Raya was banned again after the Malari incident
and Indonesia Raya coverage of corruption in Pertamina
. Mochtar Lubis and several other journalists were imprisoned without a trial, while others were blacklist
ed. It was eventually decided to discontinue the newspaper.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n newspaper co-founded in 1949 by Mochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis was an Indonesian Batak journalist and novelist who co-founded Indonesia Raya. His novel Senja di Jakarta was the first Indonesian novel to be translated into English. He was a critic of Sukarno and was imprisoned by him...
. Before its permanent closure in 1974, it was banned numerous times by both the Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
and Suharto governments.
History
Indonesia Raya was co-founded in 1949 by Mochtar LubisMochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis was an Indonesian Batak journalist and novelist who co-founded Indonesia Raya. His novel Senja di Jakarta was the first Indonesian novel to be translated into English. He was a critic of Sukarno and was imprisoned by him...
. It received irregular funding from military intelligence officers and operated under the opinion that, for the free press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
, the government was "adversary number one". By 1956 its circulation was 40,000, but after 1957 Indonesia Raya was banned six times.
In October 1958, Indonesia Raya was banned and Mochtar Lubis imprisoned. The daily did not resume publication until 1968, when the New Order
New Order (Indonesia)
The New Order is the term coined by former Indonesian President Suharto to characterize his regime as he came to power in 1966. Suharto used this term to contrast his rule with that of his predecessor, Sukarno...
government permitted its publication. Former employees and staff were asked to return and continue their work.
Beginning in 1969, Indonesia Raya published many articles regarding corruption in Pertamina. Although some newspapers, including Kompas
Kompas
Kompas is the most widely read newspaper in Indonesia. Published by Kompas-Gramedia Group Publishing since June 28, 1965, it has a reputation in Indonesia for high-quality writing and investigative journalism...
, supported Indonesia Raya, others claimed that Indonesia Raya had a conflict of interest with Pertamina and accused it of trying blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
the oil company. Eventually, in August 1970 Indonesia Raya was told to desist their reports or face serious repercussions.
Indonesia Raya covered the 1973 Thai student demonstrations and the downfall of the regime. This has been suggested to have been one of the causes of the Malari incident
Malari incident
The Malari incident was a student demonstration and riot that happened from 15 to 16 January 1974. In reaction to a state visit by Japan Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, students held a demonstration protesting corruption, high prices, and inequality in foreign investments...
.
In 1974, Indonesia Raya was banned again after the Malari incident
Malari incident
The Malari incident was a student demonstration and riot that happened from 15 to 16 January 1974. In reaction to a state visit by Japan Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, students held a demonstration protesting corruption, high prices, and inequality in foreign investments...
and Indonesia Raya coverage of corruption in Pertamina
Pertamina
Pertamina is an Indonesian government-owned corporation which extracts and refines the country's oil and gas reserves. It was created in August 1968 by the merger of Pertamin and Permina...
. Mochtar Lubis and several other journalists were imprisoned without a trial, while others were blacklist
Blacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
ed. It was eventually decided to discontinue the newspaper.