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)