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June 26, 2014

U.S. Journalist Allan Nairn Threatened with Arrest in Indonesia 
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In Indonesia, the campaign of a leading presidential candidate and
former military general has threatened to arrest the American journalist
Allan Nairn. Nairn wrote an article quoting from a 2001 interview he
conducted with the former general, Prabowo Subianto, who said:
"Indonesia is not ready for democracy" and needs "a benign authoritarian
regime." He also added: "Do I have the guts, am I ready to be called a
fascist dictator?" Nairn's story has become an issue in the Indonesian
presidential campaign and has put the former general on the defensive.
It coincides with outrage over the release of a music video made by
Prabowo supporters showing them in Nazi-like uniforms. A spokesperson
for Prabowo's campaign said the military is prepared to arrest Nairn if
he is found to have re-entered Indonesia. On his website, Nairn said: "I
am currently in Indonesia so if the [army] would like to capture me,
they can." Nairn has reported from Indonesia for years, previously
exposing government killings of civilians.

 

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