Protests over Arief's dismissal continue<\/p>\n
SALATIGA, Central Java (JP): Four days later, students
\nprotesting last week's dismissal of lecturer Arief Budiman
\ncontinued to demonstrate at Satya Wacana Christian University
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of students and teachers from the respected
\nuniversity held a noisy protest in front of rector John Joy
\nIhalaw's office, demanding that Arief be reinstated and democracy
\non the campus be restored.<\/p>\n
Sonny Ely Zaluzu, who coordinated the demonstration, said the
\nprotest was only a \"warm-up\" for other massive ones that would
\ninvolve \"thousands\" of students and teachers from all faculties.<\/p>\n
The protesters waved banners and chanted slogans mocking the
\nrector and the chairman of the foundation managing the
\nuniversity, Semangun.<\/p>\n
\"Now Arief, who is next?\" a poster read. \"Show Joy the right
\nway,\" said another.<\/p>\n
The university fired Arief, an ardent critic of the rector and
\nthe government, last week on charges that he ignored warnings
\nissued as disciplinary measures.<\/p>\n
The Harvard educated sociologist is well-known internationally
\nfor his critical views on the Indonesian political and economic
\nsystems.<\/p>\n
His dismissal is widely seen as a symbol of the repression of
\nfreedom of expression, at least within the Satya Wacana
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the university have reportedly refused to
\nreconsider his dismissal despite the mounting opposition and
\ncriticism from many quarters outside the college.<\/p>\n
Richard Hutapea, head of the university's research institute,
\nsaid he was worried that Arief's dismissal might cause foreign
\ndonors review their aid to the college.<\/p>\n
\"Satya Wacana has enjoyed much assistance from foreign
\nagencies for its tradition of democracy and its critical stand of
\nthe system,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, sympathy for Arief continued to stream in
\nyesterday. Street vendors befriended by Arief also joined the
\ndemonstrators.<\/p>\n
Student and teacher sources said a massive demonstration would
\nbe held on Monday. They plan to march to the grave of the
\nuniversity's founder, Notohamidjojo, who laid the foundation for
\nthe university's once democratic tradition.<\/p>\n
In a related development, 42 academics from various
\nuniversities in Australia sent a petition to the Indonesian
\nEducation and Culture Minister Wardiman Djojonegoro yesterday
\nexpressing their concern over Arief's dismissal.<\/p>\n
\"It is a matter of great concern to us that several Indonesian
\ncolleagues are being subject to harassment for exercising their
\nright to free speech,\" said the petition, a copy of which was
\nmade available to the Post.<\/p>\n
They also expressed concern over the police's charging
\nintellectual George Junus Aditjondro, also from Satya Wacana
\nUniversity, with insulting the government in a seminar.<\/p>\n
\"It is a sad disservice to the educational system that such
\nteachers should be victimized for passing on the strength of
\ntheir scholarship,\" the statement said. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protests-over-ariefs-dismissal-continue-1447893297",
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