Jakarta – About 100 demonstrators from the Freedom of Speech and Thought Alliance (AKBB) held a rally at Police Headquarters today. The action was held to fight the threat of the Anti Communist Alliance (AAK), which has been burning 'communist' books.

The demonstrators attempted to meet police Chief Gen. Pol. Surojo Bimantoro and police spokesperson Ir. Gen. Didi Widayati, but the two officers were not at the office. The demonstrators demanded that the government and House of Representative (DPR) allow the intellectual life of the Indonesian nation to develop by preserving freedom of information.

They demanded that police take action against any violations that threaten people's security and asked people involved with book burning to stop their activities. They also asked publishers and writers not to be afraid to write, to publish or to sell such books.

One of the demonstrators, Frans Magnis Suseno, said that the practice of burning books is without reason. The threat of book 'sweepings' hampers people in obtaining information about various ways of thinking. Whilst his books were also burned, the German-born pastor said he was involved in the rally because it is important for the nation. According to Frans, a book is an intellectual expression that deserves an intellectual response. Another demonstrator, journalist Goenawan Mohamad, demanded that police support the banning of book sweeping. He expected police to guard bookstores. Goenawan firmly stated that book-burning is anti-democratic and anti intellectual.

One of the coordinators, Ratna Sarumpaet, considered that the statement made by the Jakarta Police Chief is ambivalent. The police chief said that he would not take action against the sweepings, but warned bookstores not to display books deemed to be communist. "Seemingly, the police do not understand what we are fighting for," she said.