Mulyana has been put on communist list: Military
Mulyana has been put on communist list: Military
JAKARTA (JP): A spokesman for the military in West Java
confirmed yesterday that Mulyana W. Kusumah, the secretary-
general of the newly established Independent Election Monitoring
Committee, has been listed as a member of the banned Indonesian
Communist Party (PKI).
Lt. Col. Y. Herman Ibrahim, chief spokesman of the West Java
military district, confirmed that Mulyana has been blacklisted by
the office of social and political affairs in Bogor.
The reports first surfaced on Monday, when Suara Karya and
Pelita wrote that Mulyana had been listed as a member of the
outlawed party. The dailies, which are affiliated with the ruling
Golkar group, said that the reports were based on information
given by Didi Wiardi, the head of Bogor's office of social and
political affairs.
"Obviously, those blacklisted are not allowed to join the
general election next year," Herman said, adding that this is in
line with government regulations, which stipulate that no name
can be removed from the list.
"This means that there will never be any review of the list,"
he was quoted by Antara as saying.
Indonesia banned the PKI in 1966 after its coup attempt a year
earlier. PKI members and its affiliated organizations and
sympathizers have since been banned from voting in general
elections.
Herman called on the independent poll watchdog to reconsider
Mulyana's position as its secretary-general.
Pelita, quoting Didi, reported that Mulyana was a one-time
member of a student association affiliated with the PKI while he
was in high school in 1967.
Meanwhile, Mulyana reiterated his innocence and his earlier
statement that he has never been a member of any political
organization.
At a press meeting held at the office of Jakarta Legal Aid
Institute, Mulyana, former chairman and ardent human rights
activist, told journalists that he would continue to serve the
non-political institutions to which he belongs despite the
reports.
He asked the press to fairly report on the allegations, which
he said have discredited his reputation and family. He said he
has become the victim of a "political stigma".
He declined to say if he would take legal action regarding the
charges, which he considers slanderous.
Quoting the Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt.
Gen. Syarwan Hamid that every citizen has the right to help
ensure a fair general election, HJC Princen, another human rights
activist, said that attempts to monitor the election process
should not be considered communist. (16)