Muladi urges intellectuals to take risks

Muladi urges intellectuals to take risks

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Noted scholar Muladi told
intellectuals yesterday to be honest, defend what's right and be
courageous in facing the risks involved in such a stance.

Addressing a meeting of the Central Java branch of the
Indonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) here on
Sunday, Muladi said intellectuals should be brave enough to
reject government policies which they consider to be wrong.

"They should dare to state what they think. If certain
policies are right, say so. If they are not right, say so," said
Muladi, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human
Rights.

"Intellectuals should also be ready to face the consequences
of their stance," he said, adding that he, himself, was
constantly facing risks in connection with his activities.

When the rights commission was investigating the murder of
labor activist Marsinah earlier this year, Muladi and his family
were the target of many threats, as well as allegations that
Muliadi had accepted bribes in exchange for steering the
commission towards a particular finding.

Muladi said that intellectuals should be pioneers of national
development. "They should always fight for democracy, human
rights, justice and equality," he said.

A similar meeting of the ICMI was also held yesterday by the
organization's West Sumatra branch in Padang. That meeting was
attended by some 300 leading members in the region and heard from
a number of prominent political figures, including Governor Hasan
Basri Durin and ICMI leader Rachmat Ismail.

Ismail denied that the birth of the organization in 1990 had
been "engineered" by the political elite to further their
interests. Instead, the organization existed because Indonesian
Moslems wanted it to, he said.

"The proof that the ICMI was born because Moslems wanted it
can be seen from its rapid growth over the five years of its
existence," he said, as quoted by Antara.

The organization now has 27 provincial branches and more than
340 smaller units both here and abroad.

"Another proof...lies in the fact that it is now manned by
individuals from all walks of life -- from businessmen, to
bureaucrats, to ulemas and others," he said.

Governor Hasan Basri Durin said in his speech that the mission
of the ICMI -- which is to develop people who are intelligent as
well as strong believers -- is currently being put to the test by
widespread rumors, which might be the work of communist elements.

"Don't be provoked by rumors," he said, adding that ICMI
members should be consistent in carrying out their mission.
"Uphold the principles of Pancasila democracy, (and treat)
differences as something which is normal and helps people in
solving problems."

The West Sumatra branch of the ICMI is set to elect a new
leadership for the 1995-2000 period. Incumbent chairman Dr.
Jurnalis Kamil has declined to be re-nominated. (har/swe)