Indonesian Students Protest Corruption in Suharto Govt.
- Artist/Author/Producer: Student Protesters
- Confronting Bodies: Suharto Governmen
- Dates of action: 1978
- Location: Indonesia
- Description of the Art Work
- "... Students published a "White Book" accusing the ruling elite of
promoting a culture of corruption by example, argued that Suharto was
not a suitable candidate for re-election as president.. "
- Description of incident
- " ... In response, Suharto sent troops, helicopters and armored cars
to university campuses. The authorities arrested more than 200 student
leaders, convicted them at show-trials, and banned seven papers for
covering the students' protest. The country's most influential
journals, including Kompas and Sinar Harapan, were among those banned.
The government justified the bannings by asserting that the media had
"shaped tension" in society by providing full coverage of the
demonstrations... "
- Results of incident
- "... Suharto let the newspapers resume publication only after they
had signed a statement pledging to recognize their responsibility in
preventing any disturbances to dynamic national stability" and promising
not to "engage in slanders or other forms of insult directed toward the
national leadership and members of his family..."
Source: A Fund for Free Expression Report, "Off Limits and Corruption", July
1991, pg. 34
