Greater campus freedom?<\/p>\n
Given the fact that the issue of freedom of speech on
\nIndonesian campuses has long been the cause of so much
\nfrustration among students, academics and intellectuals, one
\nmight wonder why the recent announcement by the Coordinating
\nMinister for Political Affairs and Security, Soesilo Soedarman,
\nhas not met with the unanimous enthusiastic appreciation one
\nmight expect.<\/p>\n
As has been reported, the minister, speaking after chairing a
\nspecial meeting of the cabinet on Thursday last week, announced
\nthat the government had decided to waive the requirement that on-
\ncampus activities be covered by permits. Thus far, permits were
\nrequired for all activities, including academic seminars,
\nespecially those to which speakers from outside the campus were
\ninvited.<\/p>\n
Thus, theoretically at least, the new government measure will
\ngive students and other members of academic communities in this
\ncountry the freedom they have long yearned for in enriching their
\noutlook and vision with the fresh views and ideas they need to
\nexpand and mature as free-thinking, full-fledged intellectuals of
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
This, by the way, is the stance taken by observers, such as
\nretired Gen. Soemitro, who welcomed the government decision as a
\nstep \"to return the freedom of the rostrum to the campus\", since
\nallowing free speech on campuses was \"the beginning of the
\ndemocratization process\".<\/p>\n
In rather sharp contrast to the optimism expressed by Gen.
\nSoemitro, was the reserved attitude -- to put it mildly --
\nexpressed by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation. In the
\nfoundation's opinion, the decision is no more than a feeble move
\nunder which the political development of students will continue
\nto be shackled.<\/p>\n
A statement, signed by the foundation's communications
\ndirector, Hendardi, said the decision merely shifted the
\nauthority to issue permits from many hands -- meaning the police
\nand social-political authorities and the National Stability
\nCoordinating Agency -- to the hands of the respective university
\nrectors.<\/p>\n
Given the disparity of the opinions expressed, one might
\nwonder how the same decision could give rise to such contrasting
\nviews. The key to the explanation, we assume, is in how much one
\nbelieves in the presumed autonomy of the university rectors
\nconcerned.<\/p>\n
The fact is that campus life in Indonesia is only a part of a
\nmuch larger system which in its most extreme scope embraces the
\ncommunity as a whole. We are sure there is no doubt that -- as
\nlong as rectors are capable, or have the courage, to assume the
\nfull authority and responsibility which they are supposed to have
\n-- the new leeway which the latest government decision gives to
\nour universities can indeed be of great merit to academic life on
\nour campuses.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, however, this is also precisely where we
\nbelieve the problem will lie. Assuming responsibilities has its
\nimplications and, human nature being what it is, we are afraid
\nthat the new permit waiver may be of limited value to students in
\ntoo many cases and that restrictions will continue to prevail.<\/p>\n
Unless, of course, the system under which we live also changes
\nand is made to adjust more to the dynamics of our society and to
\nthe demands of an entirely new generation of Indonesians, raised
\nin a climate of rising expectations.<\/p>\n
But lest we may sound over-pessimistic, let us conclude by
\nsaying that in so far as the government is sincere in its choice
\nof allowing greater freedom on our campuses, the step is one in
\nthe right direction. The ball is now in the court of our
\nuniversity rectors, who must henceforth exercise their duties
\nwith perhaps an even greater measure of wisdom and
\nresponsibility.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/greater-campus-freedom-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}