IPB activities halted after student clash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The rector of Bogor Institute of Agriculture
\n(IPB), Professor Soleh Solahuddin, temporarily stopped lessons at
\nthe campus yesterday following a clash involving hundreds of
\nstudents on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the lecture activities will return to normal on
\nThursday (today),\" Soleh told a press conference at the state-
\nowned institute's Darmaga campus. The institute is widely
\nrecognized as one of the top universities in the country.<\/p>\n
The fight on Tuesday afternoon left five students wounded and
\na number of campus facilities were damaged, Antara quoted the
\nprofessor as saying.<\/p>\n
According to the Sinar Pagi daily yesterday, at least 10
\nstudents were wounded during the brawl which continued until late
\nat night following the arrival of hundreds of police and military
\nofficers. All casualties were treated at the Red Cross PMI
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
It also said that a campus security car and other facilities,
\nsuch as classrooms and a rectorate room, were damaged by students
\ncarrying stones and blocks of wood.<\/p>\n
A dispute between students of forestry and animal husbandry
\nduring Sunday's interfaculty basketball competition, which was
\nheld in conjunction with IPB's anniversary, sparked the clash,
\nthe daily quoted students as saying.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the forestry students were upset when their
\nrivals received more support from students of other faculties,
\nincluding those from agriculture, fishery and food technology, it
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Forestry supporters were incensed and invited the other
\nsupporters to fight, according to the paper. But Sunday's dispute
\ncaused no serious problems until it reignited on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Rector Soleh said yesterday that the second clash followed
\nrumors that forestry students had intimidated those from other
\nfaculties and dominated the use of sports facilities at the
\ncampus.<\/p>\n
As a result, students of animal husbandry, agriculture,
\nfishery and food technology rallied outside the Forestry Faculty
\nto protest.<\/p>\n
\"Due to the large number of students, the crowd then became
\ninvolved in a conflict,\" Soleh said, adding that he deeply
\nregretted the incident.<\/p>\n
The clash would not have happened if the students had ignored
\nrumors, which were intentionally spread by those bent on causing
\nchaos in the campus, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The incident was purely due to this incorrect information.
\nActually, as intellectual people of the future, the students
\nshould have checked the information they heard.\"<\/p>\n
Soleh and other IPB executives have already met with student
\nrepresentatives. During the meeting they agreed to return
\nnormalcy to the campus and help secure the grounds.<\/p>\n
Participants of the meeting also agreed to set up a special
\nbody to investigate the case and ensure that those who committed
\ncrimes during the clash faced court.<\/p>\n
\"If some of our students are found guilty in the court, we
\nalso will take academic action against them,\" Soleh said. (bsr)<\/p>",
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