A fighting editor: Jogjakarta (Canberra Times, 3 April 1967)

=== [PDF page 1] === Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 - 1995), Monday 3 April 1967, page 2 CREIGHTON From BURNS, Asia South-east our Correspondent p o s reluctant politician, in a coun politics the where try traditional path to the pan translator Radio Aus test, and left with announcer tralia, passed the theon. of his generation, student politics; Like many JOGJAKARTA first in the student army in the revolution against the Dutch; later Indonesian the Students' Movement, when, as journalist, began young time in first jpOR the than three months, the 36-year old editor of Pelopor Jogja, Centra] Java's remorselessly most anti-Sukarnoist news more paper, without his His sonal bodyguard three tough, back law from movement", Jussac popular monthly was called Bikini. deserted account the had been wife who Moslem forced into prostitution to sup port her child. Jussac, himself Margo had meant the double sexual Moslem good Moslem, attack wilh the Indones announcer ian section of Radio Australia, Communist the Gerwani, which organisation, women's then Melbourne. tightly known Rahardjo) is was man, sprung children, young father of six lives like a political com who mando but talks like an intel lectual, despite his compara tive lack of formal education. perhaps the most He is one new the impressive of political leaders generation standards morality. Central Java. But National Library of Australia coun controlled the Federation Associations of Women's the lever Jogjakarta, used local authorities to force the Jussac on into prosecuting charge of writing pornography. He defended himself through local the sessions seven won courts,?nd eventually suspended sentence. then I'd had "Even of journalism", applied p o s for asked enough Jussac says. He advertised translator recalls. thought of myself as still revolu did tionary. I told him still 'Well, you're shut your eyes, shut your cars, and keep your shut. write Don't big mouth word', my friend said "I did just that. Until the revolutionary, hardly wrote and home largely family supported my saved had the money in Australia". from my years Then, in the middle of 1965, into back was pushed political activity and back into middle of 1965 the Indones party. got off the ship in I met old friend days of the student short slight, Communist 1957, Wirosoehroto, who, for four years between 1959 traoslatov and 1963, was ian had published, in romantic-moralistic was magazine their the "When Djakarta, story have beginning to for strongly later, issue the was run Jussac tide political Five years forced. Movement. Rahardjo Jussac Melbourne returned to Indonesia in when 1963, the August units. part-time His real political life began with in 1952, when he broke leadership the Communist Students' Indonesian the young lawyer only half still the next year for Melbourne their five with his wife and children. In Melbourne, he and two Indonesian colleagues founded the non-governmental Indon information esian team, provide interested Australians about with better information Indonesia. Today in Indonesia, unashamed he is an propa gandist for Australia. course. per paracommandos plain clothes while through way under gun pillow. gone practising Jogjakarta sleeping began word. stayed journalism, now dangerous for Indonesians opposed and President to Communism game Sukarno. His member old-time father, Indonesian of the Nationalist Party (PNI) urged http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131647295 === [PDF page 2] === Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 - 1995), Monday 3 April 1967, page 2 (2) him. Jussac In less than nine chairman months he was Jogjakarta branch the North controlling of the PNI, 85,000. membership did. In the meantime, the coup 1965, inspired, of October, led by the Communist not Party, had been launched and failed. Nationalist The had now making des party was cleanse itself. Jussac 1966, January, Jogja, founded Pelopor had National running a moderate efforts perate ist but strongly ist editorial anti-Commun line. In the middle of 1966, Nationalist chairman of his Party branch, he was trying to put into operation the instruc tions of the party's national the party to purge committee and Communists, been had who anyone with the associated Com munist rebellion at Madiun, in unsuccessful and the 1948, former 1965. He coup stantly opposed and by a small group members was con frustrated of senior party, and fight and out the to get decided the outside. from the PNI resigned from his using in October, 1966, editorship of Pelopor Jogja as It was then that the an excuse. game start, many against him. did the remnant agely only him to join the party, for self-preservation. "In this sort of situation, isn't healthy to be alone. You need friends around you. Join the party", his father advised course, of the PKI. let There were anonymous life. his ters, threatening least one serious attempt was his him on made to ambush home. way late February 22, friends in the army gave him last-minute warning of a plan the train to beat him up on Djakarta. that, All Jussac thinks, now though sometimes he unconvincing when over; sounded in his pleasant him and cottage my hotel room, (his week. The in Jogjakarta talked still on him, of it all often a the laughter little forced. had hoped to take two leave. weeks' But already he deeply involved in a new strain and campaign propaganda articulate the regime new policies of the to publicise and the political crimes of Sukarno and those who supported him, particularly since the coup. "I wouldn't be doing had own Why pleasant wounds? way", he because work not it's opening up that. It's too This morning my I would when asked me gerous. said. old dan wife start and about her I told her it was again. family a good question". thinking began to get hot. For a trusted by not he was the moderate the and action and student leaders. the same the left wing of the nationalists, militant front time, Nationalist Party turned sav against him. agely National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131647295