Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Ignoring a storm of criticism over the nomination of a well-known human rights activist and government official to the Democratic Party's advisory board, party cadres said on Monday that they would support President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decision.

Todung Mulya Lubis, a lawyer, human rights advocate and anticorruption activist, who currently sits on the selection committee to find a new chairman for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), has been announced as a candidate for the party's steering committee.

But critics have pointed out a conflict of interest in that move because of the influence Todung carries in his current position.

Anis Matta, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Struggle (PKS), said Todung must leave the committee "immediately" to guarantee its independence.

Activist Danang Widoyoko from Indonesia Corruption Watch said Todung was appointed as member of the selection team to represent the public in the election of the KPK chairperson. "As a selection team member he could be influenced by the Democrats. It's different from when he represented common civilians," Danang said.

Todung, who did not respond to calls seeking comment on Monday, is a longtime transparency activist himself. He served on the advisory board of the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and founded Transparency Indonesia. He represents civil society on the KPK selection committee.

Todung's close aide, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, also member of the selection committee, said he was confident Todung would immediately resign from the team.

Yudhoyono has stayed tight-lipped about the composition or structure of the party's 2010-15 advisory board, but the party has publicly courted other human rights activists, including Usman Hamid and Rachland Nashidik, to sit on the board.

Meanwhile, those in the upper echelons of the Democratic Party have so far not acknowledged the criticism, simply expressing support for the president's decision.

"I think it will not be a problem for us," said Saan Mustopha, the Democrats' deputy secretary general. He said that as long as board nominees had "commitment, competence, integrity and credibility," party cadres would accept them "with open arms."

In addition to Todung, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and East Java Governor Sukarwo have been nominated to the advisory board. The governors of the two largest provinces in the country both ran for office as independents, enjoying multiparty support.