In July 1994 the Indonesian government banned three popular Indonesian news publications: Tempo, Editor, and Detik. The ban reversed a trend toward greater openness in Indonesia and was followed by harassment, including arrests of independent journalists, attempts to prevent discussions of social and political issues from taking place in the media or in seminars; and gag orders, detention proceedings, and other punitive measures against well-known critics or political opponents of the government. The ban, apparently triggered by a Tempo article critical of Soeharto favorite B.J. Habibie, minister of research and technology, also caused unprecedented public outrage and street demonstrations in several cities.
Press Closures in Indonesia One Year Later