Respected professor H.A. Mattulada dies

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Anthropology professor at Hasanuddin University H.A. Mattulada died on Thursday morning at his house on Jl. Ratulangi here after being treated at Akademis Makassar Hospital for stroke and diabetes.

Mattulada earned his doctoral degree from the University of Indonesia in 1975 and was once a visiting professor at the Kyoto University in Japan in 1979 and 1980. He was rector of the Tadulako University in Palu, Central Sulawesi, from 1981 until 1990.

Mattulada, also a member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) for the 1987/1992 period, left one daughter. He was known as a cultural researcher and a productive writer on cultural issues. In 1998, he joined students demonstrating for reform.

Mattulada served in the Army from 1945 until 1950 and then joined the National Police until 1955.

Mattulada was awarded several medals of honor, including the Heroic Medal from first president Sukarno in 1958, the Cultural Medal of Honor Satyalencana in 1997 from then president Soeharto and the Cultural Medal of Honor Budaya Parama Dharma from incumbent President Abdurrahman Wahid last August. (27/lup)