| Founder(s) | Mochtar Lubis |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| Language | Indonesian |
| Ceased publication | 1974 |
| Country | Indonesia |
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.
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]
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
- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ Hill 1994, p. 32
- ^ Kakiailatu 2007, p. 61
- ^ Kakiailatu 2007, p. 70
- ^ a b c d Badri Jawara (23 July 2002). "Press freedom 'still under threat'". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ Hill 1994, p. 38
- ^ Hill 1994, pp. 153–154
Bibliography
- Hill, David T. (1994). The Press in New Order Indonesia. Jakarta: Equinox. ISBN 978-979-3780-46-7.
- Kakiailatu, Toeti (2007). "Media in Indonesia: Forum for political change and critical assessment" (PDF). Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 48 (1): 60–71. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.525.9292. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8373.2007.00330.x.