Rectors back students' push for reform<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): State and private university rectors, declaring
\ntheir allegiance would always remain with their students, gave
\ntheir stamp of approval on Saturday to student activists' crusade
\nfor reform.<\/p>\n
A gathering of 159 rectors and administrators issued a five-
\npoint declaration which included an entreaty to the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) to protect students putting on the line their \"moral and
\nintellectual force\" for sustainable reform.<\/p>\n
\"Rectors will always side with the students ... We urge ABRI
\nto protect students,\" said the declaration titled \"Agreement of
\nAll-Indonesia Rectors Meeting\".<\/p>\n
Calling for a fair and just general election, it offered to
\nhave members of the academic community serve as independent
\nobservers of the polls. The rectors believed the move would boost
\nnational and international confidence in the election.<\/p>\n
The rectors also advocated an independent judiciary and
\neffective legislation to root out the practices of corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
Signing on behalf of the group were Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology (ITB) rector Lilik Hendrajaya, Trisakti University
\nrector Thoby Mutis and Ujungpandang Veterans University rector
\nAnwar Arifin.<\/p>\n
Participants who convened at ITB's Sasana Budaya Ganesha hall
\ncame from across Java, Sumatra, Bali and Irian Jaya. They dubbed
\nthe agreement the \"Bandung Declaration\".<\/p>\n
Lilik said they would submit their demands to the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session.<\/p>\n
Thoby added they would also provide previous input concerning
\nreform in universities to the Assembly to ensure it would not be
\n\"thrown into the garbage can just like that\".<\/p>\n
Lilik said: \"We'll get these (declaration) points across to
\nthe Special Session, whatever way we can.\"<\/p>\n
The rectors joined students in expressing concern of the
\nmilitary's long-established role in politics.<\/p>\n
Participants were divided on whether to declare support for
\nthe session.<\/p>\n
Thoby argued that differences in opinion were part of
\ndemocracy and \"we appreciate that\". Ultimately, the declaration
\ncontained no endorsement or condemnation of the session<\/p>\n
They also expressed concern over \"counter demonstrations\" to
\nstudent protests on the session, and believed they were
\npotentially damaging.<\/p>\n
Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono expressed a
\nsimilar concern on Friday, warning that demonstrations and
\ncounter demonstrations could lead to riots.<\/p>\n
\"So, let's not be provoked to mobilize masses to wage
\ndemonstrations and counter demonstrations,\" he said in Jakarta.
\n(43\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rectors-back-students-push-for-reform-1447893297",
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