Counter-protest against doctor

Counter-protest against doctor

BOGOR (JP): As most residents of Mulyaharja village demanded
that "popular" doctor Abdul Mughni be reassigned to their
neighborhood, a group of 50 Mulyaharja villagers went to the
Bogor council office on Thursday, asking that the doctor be
removed for allegedly "creating anxiety among the people."

"Abdul Mughni has to stop all of his activities in the village
as he has manipulated the cases of marasmus and starvation here
only to gain money from foreign and local donors for his own sake
and the non-government organizations that have been working with
him," Wawan Wirasasmita, the group coordinator, said.

The group said that not all reports of marasmus in the area
were true." We demand Abdul Mughni end his practice and apologize
for the widespread news," Wawan said.

Mughni, however, strongly denied the allegations.

"The donors who supported us in eradicating marasmus knew
about the poor condition from the media. I personally never
submitted any of fund proposals for this work," he said.

"Remember, the donors are intelligent people. They came here
and saw with their own eyes the conditions of marasmus in the
village," Mughni added.

He said routine activities such as health training, the
distribution of milk and additional nutrition for the children
continues in the village.

"So, which part of my job has 'created anxiety' or 'disturbed
the people'?" he remarked.

"I won't bother with such (resignation) request, anyway," he
said, showing the list of 540 Mulyaharja villagers who signed a
petition asking him to stay and continue helping the people.

Last week, hundreds of Mulyaharja villagers, mostly
housewives, visited Bogor council office, asking for the
councilors' help to cancel the transfer of Abdul Mughni from his
previous post.

The residents said they still badly needed doctor Mughni and
praised his work since his assignment to Mulyaharja village.
(24/edt)