The controversy over the book "Membongkar Gurita Cikeas," or "Unravelling the Cikeas Octopus," moved from free speech drama to farce on Wednesday when the book's author used the volume to smack a lawmaker in the face who had accused him of suffering from hallucinations.
Former anti-Suharto activist and academic George Junus Aditjondro was sitting with several other people discussing the book with Democratic Party lawmaker Ramadhan Pohan during the book's formal launch in Jakarta. Then Aditjondro, who wrote the book, lunged forward and hit Ramadhan near the left eye with the book. The incident was televised.
"I was hit by George," Ramadhan told reporters as he was rushing out of the Doekoen Cafe, where the discussion was held. The politician also showed his slightly bruised eye and a small cut on his nose to journalists.
The smacking incident overshadowed the Jakarta launch of a book that accuses President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party of funneling money from the controversial 2008 Bank Century bailout through various foundations to finance this year's election campaigns.
The name Cikeas refers to the town where Yudhoyono's residence is located and recalls references to the Suharto family as the "Cendana clan" based on the Menteng street where they live.
The book has been pulled from bookstore shelves and been threatened with formal banning despite the fact that most of the allegations seem to come from second-hand sources that have already circulated widely on the Internet and elsewhere.
Several organizers of the discussion later chased after the lawmaker in an attempt to calm him down. The outraged Ramadhan reported the book bashing to police.
He then went to the AINI Eye Hospital to have a forensic examination as evidence. "I'm going to make George regret this incident," Ramadhan said. Just before the assault, Ramadhan was complaining about the book's content.
"He said that George must have hallucinated the idea that Rp 150 billion ($15.9 million) from Bank Century was channeled to Jurnal," said Boni Hargens, a University of Indonesia political analyst who was on the discussion panel, referring to the Jurnal Nasional newspaper.
"Obviously Ramadhan never read the book," Boni said, "because there isn't anything that suggests that."
Ramadhan is the editor-in-chief of Jurnal Nasional, a newspaper closely linked to Yudhoyono. Boni said Aditjondro seemed annoyed at Ramadhan's use of the word "hallucinating."
Aditjondro admitted trying to hit Ramadhan with a copy of his book. "It's him who is hallucinating. I was emotional but I wasn't aiming for his face, the book didn't even hit him," he said. Ramadhan, he said, had come to the launch uninvited. "Maybe he was there to provoke me into doing such things," Aditjondro said.
Around 500 people attended the event, most eager to get a copy of the hard to find book.
The State Palace and senior Democrats have denounced the book as "libelous" and denied its allegations. Around 30 people rallied against the book during the event, sporting placards saying, "Long Live SBY" and "George is a Provocateur and a Liar."
However, the book may disappoint those who can find a copy. The 183-page volume offers little more than a collection of news excerpts from various media, including the Jakarta Globe, combined with the author's personal commentary and analysis. There is little trace of the investigative style Aditjondro demonstrated in his earlier works.
Despite choosing "Behind the Bank Century Scandal" as the book's subtitle, Aditjondro even failed to give a comprehensive evaluation of the case as he only dedicates two and a half pages to the controversial bailout.
Gerindra Party lawmaker Permadi said that while the information presented was debatable, Aditjondro had presented an important alternative perspective.
"Charitable foundations were used during the Suharto era to launder funds. There should be more transparency in how parties obtain their funds," he said.