The Board of Trustees, Officers, and Staff of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and relatives of Atmakusumah Astraatmadja, 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts from Indonesia. Atmakusumah Astraatmadja passed away due to kidney failure on January 2 at the age of 86 at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM).
Beginning his career in the 1960s, Atmakusumah witnessed firsthand the perils faced by journalists under an authoritarian regime. Despite the risks, he continued to write and speak out, championing journalistic integrity in an era when dissenting voices were often silenced. His tenure as chief editor of Indonesia Raya underscored his courage and moral fortitude. The forced shutdown of the publication did not deter him. Instead, it deepened his resolve to foster independent and responsible journalism.
Atmakusumah’s contributions extended beyond the newsroom. As an educator, he nurtured generations of journalists, instilling in them the principles of fairness, accuracy, and accountability. Through his leadership in the Press Council of Indonesia and various media organizations, he played a crucial role in shaping policies that safeguarded journalistic freedom, even during political turmoil.
Atmakusumah Astraatmadja received the medallion during the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies held August 31, 2000. Handing the Ramon Magsaysay Award to him is Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Chairman Ambassador Bienvenido A. Tan Jr (right).
In 2000, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts for “his formative role in laying the institutional and professional foundations for a new era of press freedom in Indonesia.”
His legacy remains a beacon for journalists and advocates worldwide, reminding us that press freedom is not just a privilege but a responsibility—one that demands courage, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to the truth.