Former students lend support to fired teacher<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
About 50 former students of SMPN 56 junior high school
\ndemonstrated on Monday at the State Administrative Court in East
\nJakarta in support of teacher Nurlaila, who is suing Governor
\nSutiyoso over her dismissal.<\/p>\n
\"We have come to support our beloved teacher. She does not
\ndeserve to be treated like this. We want to pressure the judges
\nto side with the people, not the state officials,\" said Aditia, a
\nformer student of SMPN 56, which was located in Melawai, South
\nJakarta, before being closed down by the administration last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
\"Nurlaila is a living example of the saying 'heroes without
\nmedals'. Instead of being punished, she should be honored. This
\nproves that there is no appreciation for teachers here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aditia is one of hundreds of SMPN 56 students who were
\ntransferred to different schools in South Jakarta after their
\nschool was closed.<\/p>\n
SMPN 56 shut down after being involved in a land swap deal
\nbetween the Ministry of National Education and PT Tata Disantara,
\na company owned by former manpower minister Abdul Latief.<\/p>\n
Nurlaila, who taught civics, is the only SMPN 56 teacher who
\nrefused to accept a transfer to the school's new location in
\nJeruk Purut, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She was fired last December by gubernatorial decree, though
\nher dismissal was made retroactive to February 2004. According to
\nthe decree, by refusing a transfer she had abandoned her duties.<\/p>\n
The court was scheduled on Monday to hear arguments from
\nlawyers representing Sutiyoso. However, the lawyers from the
\nJakarta Administration Legal Office requested an additional week
\nto finish their arguments.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Kadar Slamet then offered Nurlaila's lawyers
\nthe opportunity to read out their client's demands.<\/p>\n
\"Considering that this case has attracted the attention of the
\nmedia and the public, I decided to give the plaintiff's lawyers a
\nchance to read out their demands, to help the public understand
\nthe case,\" Kadar said.<\/p>\n
Of the 20 lawyers representing Nurlaila, four took turns
\nreading out an 11-page document that included the demand that the
\ngovernor annul Nurlaila's dismissal and reinstate her full rights
\nas a civil servant, including the payment of her salary and
\nbenefits dating back to 2003.<\/p>\n
Endang Sumardi, the lone defense lawyer who attended the
\nsession, said Governor Sutiyoso would not annul Nurlaila's
\ndismissal, which he called appropriate for the situation.<\/p>\n
\"A civil servant should be willing to do his or her job
\nwherever he or she is instructed to do so,\" Endang said.(006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/former-students-lend-support-to-fired-teacher-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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