Institute told to stop violence<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Sumedang, West Java<\/p>\n
Fed up with rampant use of violence in the state-run Public
\nAdministration Institute (IPDN) in Jatinangor, Sumedang, West
\nJava, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has demanded an end to
\nthe practice.<\/p>\n
\"Stop the violent culture in the institute now,\" the President
\nsaid in his address during the institute's graduation day here on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Violence is deep-rooted in the institute, which ironically
\neducates students bound for the government bureaucracy. Many have
\nblamed the violence on the military-style discipline imposed on
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
The institute came under the spotlight in 2003 when a
\ntelevision station broadcast video footage of a student, Wahyu
\nHidayat, being beaten up by his seniors. Nine students were
\nsentenced to between seven months and ten months in jail for the
\nviolence that led to Wahyu's death. The sentence was suspended
\npending completion of an in-depth investigation into the case.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2000, a junior student, Erie Rakhman, also died
\nfrom beatings by his seniors. Seven students involved in that
\nviolence were also jailed.<\/p>\n
In March this year, 11 IPDN students were injured in a
\nlunchtime brawl. The brawl was sparked by a dispute between a
\njunior student and his senior.<\/p>\n
The President asked all IPDN students to develop good
\ncommunications and leadership skills.<\/p>\n
\"Seniors should not feel superior in their social interactions
\nwith juniors because such superiority could encourage the use of
\nviolence in this institute.\"<\/p>\n
The President said leaders are respected for their competence
\nand use of persuasion, not their authoritarianism or violent
\nculture.<\/p>\n
He said that senior and junior status was a matter of time,
\nand during their career the public would not take such status
\ninto account but rather their competence.<\/p>\n
President Susilo also warned that the state would collapse if
\nthe bureaucracy performed poorly and politicians fought for their
\nown and group interests.<\/p>\n
\"Politics is not something bad, and it is necessary if it is
\nbased on strong values of morality and pursued for the interests
\nof common people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Politicians will come and go, but the government apparatus
\nwill remain and they are required to work professionally to serve
\nthe public, Susilo said.<\/p>\n
\"You must serve the public fairly and treat the people equally
\nand without discrimination,\" he told the new graduates.<\/p>\n
A total of 1,149 graduates were installed on Monday. The
\ninstitute suspended the graduation of the nine students who were
\nconvicted in the 2003 incident. They are appealing the verdict to
\nthe Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Acting rector of IPDN I Nyoman Sumaryadi said Minister of Home
\nAffairs Mohammad Ma'ruf took the decision to wait for a legally
\nbinding verdict.<\/p>\n
Sumaryadi said three of the nine students had been dismissed
\nfrom the institute, but it could not take effect until after the
\nprovincial high court suspended the execution of the district
\ncourt verdict.<\/p>\n
The nine students have been allowed to continue their studies
\nfollowing the incident, but are barred from leaving the town.<\/p>\n
The nine are Dekky Susandi, Oktoviano Minang Santoso, Gema
\nAwal Ramadhan, Yopi Maulana Abdilah, Dena Rekha Febrianto, Bangun
\nR. Napitupulu, Dadang Hadisurya, Yayan Sopiyan and Hendi Setiadi.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/institute-told-to-stop-violence-1447893297",
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