Muladi urges intellectuals to take risks<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Noted scholar Muladi told
\nintellectuals yesterday to be honest, defend what's right and be
\ncourageous in facing the risks involved in such a stance.<\/p>\n
Addressing a meeting of the Central Java branch of the
\nIndonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) here on
\nSunday, Muladi said intellectuals should be brave enough to
\nreject government policies which they consider to be wrong.<\/p>\n
\"They should dare to state what they think. If certain
\npolicies are right, say so. If they are not right, say so,\" said
\nMuladi, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
\"Intellectuals should also be ready to face the consequences
\nof their stance,\" he said, adding that he, himself, was
\nconstantly facing risks in connection with his activities.<\/p>\n
When the rights commission was investigating the murder of
\nlabor activist Marsinah earlier this year, Muladi and his family
\nwere the target of many threats, as well as allegations that
\nMuliadi had accepted bribes in exchange for steering the
\ncommission towards a particular finding.<\/p>\n
Muladi said that intellectuals should be pioneers of national
\ndevelopment. \"They should always fight for democracy, human
\nrights, justice and equality,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A similar meeting of the ICMI was also held yesterday by the
\norganization's West Sumatra branch in Padang. That meeting was
\nattended by some 300 leading members in the region and heard from
\na number of prominent political figures, including Governor Hasan
\nBasri Durin and ICMI leader Rachmat Ismail.<\/p>\n
Ismail denied that the birth of the organization in 1990 had
\nbeen \"engineered\" by the political elite to further their
\ninterests. Instead, the organization existed because Indonesian
\nMoslems wanted it to, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The proof that the ICMI was born because Moslems wanted it
\ncan be seen from its rapid growth over the five years of its
\nexistence,\" he said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
The organization now has 27 provincial branches and more than
\n340 smaller units both here and abroad.<\/p>\n
\"Another proof...lies in the fact that it is now manned by
\nindividuals from all walks of life -- from businessmen, to
\nbureaucrats, to ulemas and others,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Governor Hasan Basri Durin said in his speech that the mission
\nof the ICMI -- which is to develop people who are intelligent as
\nwell as strong believers -- is currently being put to the test by
\nwidespread rumors, which might be the work of communist elements.<\/p>\n
\"Don't be provoked by rumors,\" he said, adding that ICMI
\nmembers should be consistent in carrying out their mission.
\n\"Uphold the principles of Pancasila democracy, (and treat)
\ndifferences as something which is normal and helps people in
\nsolving problems.\"<\/p>\n
The West Sumatra branch of the ICMI is set to elect a new
\nleadership for the 1995-2000 period. Incumbent chairman Dr.
\nJurnalis Kamil has declined to be re-nominated. (har\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muladi-urges-intellectuals-to-take-risks-1447893297",
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