Membongkar Gurita Cikeas

“Membongkar Gurita Cikeas” is a controversial book that tells about the

manipulation or corruption happen in government. The writer, George Junus Aditjondro,

mentioned people and the organization that related with the ‘Century Bank Scandal’. He

mentioned two owners of multi-national company that supported one of mass media

and the Democrat Party. Not only that, he explained many government officials and the

member of SBY family occupied the strategic position.

Initially, there is an issue that told about the book that attacked the Susilo

Bambang Yudhoyono (Current Indonesia President). Few times later, mass media told

that book’s writer is George Junus Aditjondro, which is a lecturer in one of university in

Australia. Then, as reported in mass media, George Junus Aditjondro launched his

book in the end of December. After this book launched, there were news in mass media

about this book will be recalled or has been bought in large volume. Suddenly, people

were trying to find and read “Membongkar Gurita Cikeas”. After weeks later, Setiyardi

Negara launched “Hanya Fitnah dan Mencari Sensasi” that many claimed as the

counter for “Membongkar Gurita Cikeas” book.

He launched this book at the end of the year 2009, when everyone and media

are talking about Century Bank Scandal. After the launching, many government officials

commented about the book. They commented or responded in different opinions in

mass media. Some of them critized about the validity of the data and rejected of the

book. There are some opinions about this book, such as:
 "Gurita Cikeas menjadi fakta yang liar. Penulis bilang buku itu akurat, penerbit bilang
mencetak sekian ribu, pihak Cikeas bilang tdak ada penarikan. Siapa yg jujur dan
siapa bohong? Di alam demokrasi seperti ini tidak perlu risau dengan buku seperti
itu." Alvian Muhamad, Makassar

"Jika kebebasan berekspresi dibuka tanpa ada pertanggungjawaban, maka semua

orang akan mengatakan apa yang dia maui. Jika tulisan itu benar, apa yang akan
dilakukan oleh penegak hukum dan jika salah apa yang akan dilakukan oleh
penegak hukum? Akmal al-Bintany, Pekanbaru

Di alam demokrasi seperti ini tidak perlu risau dengan buku seperti itu. Alvian
Muhamad, Makassar

"Penghentian penjualan di beberapa toko buka di tanah air adalah salah, karena
melanggar atau membatasi masyarakat Indonesia dalam mendapatkan informasi
yang seluas-luasnya. Mengenai toko-toko buku, saya pikir tidak perlu kuatir
mengenai penjualan buku semacam ini." Eddyson Sekenyap, Jayapura, Papua

"Di jaman kebebasan ini semua orang bisa bicara sesuka hatinya, seharusnya juga
dipersiapkan undang-undang untuk memberikan sanksi yang berat bila ternyata apa
yang diberitakan itu tidak benar karena banyak berita yg tidak benar sering
menimbulkan efek yang luar biasa dengan mempengaruhi opini publik." Suyadi,
Balikpapan.

"Setiap orang berhak menulis dan tidak perlu dilarang beredar, penulis tentu telah
mempelajari hal tersebut sebelum dirilis di pasaran. Jadi buat apa repot, kalo yang
ditulis itu dirasakan tidak tepat, langsung aja cari tahu dari penulisnya langsung."
Lutfi, Grobogan, Purwodadi.

"Saya kira alamnya bukan orde baru lagi. Jadi jangan ditarik dari peredaran. Kalau
isinya salah ya dikoreksi. Kalau salah dan memfitnah, yang difitnah bisa melakukan
proses hukum yang berlaku...rakyat bisa menilai." Rosid Sujono, Semarang

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/indonesia/forum/2009/12/091227_guritacikeas.shtml/12-01-2010,

16.32]

This book is help by media, so it can be ‘well-known’ in short time. Not only famous, but

it becomes as a hot news and everyone is talking about it. The mass media were trying

to highlight the book launching, its book and opinion about this book, also the issue

about book recall.

 The agenda-setting theory is suitable with this story. Why is that? As I said in the

previous paragraph, the mass media try to highlight, discuss, and trying to gain deeper

information, or opinion from others. Most of media showed the rejection, or negative

opinion about this book (e.g. some government official stated this book is incorrect or

the intention of this book is to ‘hit’ some people, and the writer is only using secondary

data). They’re reporting and putting negative opinion, to affect people in different ways.

One of the examples, some people are trying to find the book, or download the e-book.

They intend or are having some objective to persuade them to believe that book is a

controversial book. In the other side, it can be understood as the book that reveals the

truth of government manipulation.