Mulyana advised to sue over libel

JAKARTA (JP): A senior human rights activist and a legal expert have suggested that Mulyana W. Kusumah stage a courtroom showdown to disprove an official's allegation that the political activist once had links to the Indonesian Communist Party.

Muladi, a senior member of the National Commission on Human Rights, and law expert Loebby Loqman separately said that the accusation has undoubtedly smeared Mulyana's good name.

"Mulyana should have the courage to challenge in court the official who publicly accused him of having past links with the PKI (outlawed Indonesian Communist Party)," Muladi said in Semarang yesterday.

The accusation against Mulyana, the secretary-general of the controversial Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), was made by the Bogor administration's chief of sociopolitical affairs. Mulyana's name has been confirmed by the West Java military as being on the administration's list of communists.

The government has fiercely rejected the independent poll watchdog, saying that Indonesia already has the government's official Election Supervision Committee. Independent watchdog activists in several towns have reportedly been subject to harassment.

The military also said that Mulyana is among some 20,000 people whose right to vote has been revoked because of their involvement with or support for the PKI 30 years ago.

Mulyana, who has received widespread sympathy from pro- democracy activists, has repeatedly denied the allegation. He says that he has never had anything to do with the PKI.

"I even passed screening (for PKI sympathizers) before I was admitted to teach at the University of Indonesia. It's interesting they charge me of involvement," he said in Ujungpandang on Wednesday.

Mulyana has also been active with the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation and teaches criminology at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the state-run University of Indonesia.

An accusation of past ties to the PKI usually means the end of one's career, be it in the private sector or in public office.

On Tuesday, the school's dean, M. Budyatna, said that he will not dismiss Mulyana unless there is clear evidence to support the accusation. He added, however, that he has asked the university's administration to review Mulyana's personal file.

Noted legal expert Loebby Loqman said the government has an obligation to let citizens know if their right to vote has been revoked and to explain why.

Loebby told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Wednesday that any citizen can take the government to court if his or her right to vote is denied.

Loebby said the government has become more transparent in informing those who have been prohibited from leaving the country and explaining to them the reasons.

He said such transparency should be extended to voting rights.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Assegaf, deputy chief of the Indonesian Bar Association, expressed his concern with the charges.

"The allegation is surprising. Mulyana is known for his dedication both at the LBH (Legal Aid Institute) and at the university," he said.

Assegaf said he believed that the allegation was not put forward by Mulyana's rivals at the institute as some people have speculated. "I bet the allegation has to do with his political activities, such as his involvement with KIPP."

Concern was also voiced by well-known sociologist and government critic Arief Budiman.

He questioned why the government keeps using the same tactic to discredit outspoken non-governmental organization activists, students and intellectuals.

"It is such an outdated tactic," he noted. "Maybe the government is running out of reasons for silencing its critics." (16/20/har/pan)