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)