Who was Pramoedya Ananta Toer?
Q: Who was Pramoedya Ananta Toer?
A: Pramoedya Ananta Toer was an Indonesian writer who wrote novels, short stories, essays, and histories of Indonesia and its people.
Q: What did the Dutch Government do to him?
A: The Dutch Government put him in prison from 1947 to 1949 during the War of Independence.
Q: How did Suharto respond to Pramoedya's writings?
A: Suharto often censored his writing in Indonesia even though he was well known outside his home country. He also sent him to a prison island from 1965 to 1979.
Q: What is the Buru Quartet?
A: The Buru Quartet is Pramoedya's most famous work which he created on the prison island of Buru. Since he wasn't allowed writing materials in prison, he told the story aloud to other prisoners and it was written down and smuggled out.
Q: What policies was Pramoedya against?
A: He was against some policies of Indonesia's first President Sukarno as well as against the New Order regime of Suharto. He spoke out against colonialism, racism and corruption within the Indonesian government.
Q: How did human rights advocates fight for his freedom of expression?
A: During all the years that he suffered in prison and house arrest, human rights advocates fought for his freedom of expression by advocating for better treatment or release from captivity.
