Student activists want campus freedom restored<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A discussion yesterday on student politics
\nreached the widely expected conclusion: Restore campus freedom.<\/p>\n
Students taking part in the one-day discussion, organized by
\nthe Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said they feel that the
\ngovernment's policy of \"neutralizing\" university campuses has
\nbeen at the expense of dulling students' creativity.<\/p>\n
The participants, who came from universities in Jakarta,
\nYogyakarta and Bandung, said the government has virtually taken
\nover the campuses to effectively put down any student political
\nactivism.<\/p>\n
This has got to stop, the speakers said, adding that it's time
\nthe students started developing their identities.<\/p>\n
\"All government regulations designed to prevent students from
\ngetting involved in politics should be replaced,\" Lina, of the
\nIndonesian Student Solidarity for Democracy which organized the
\ndiscussion, said in reading the meeting's conclusion.<\/p>\n
The government insists that university campuses should be
\nspared from political activities and that students wishing to
\nengage in politics should join one of the three political
\norganizations. Campuses could organize academic discussions on
\npolitics but that is as far as it goes.<\/p>\n
The government also gave university rectors full control in
\nappointing student senates. In the 1970s, the senates were
\nelected representatives of the students.<\/p>\n
Velix V. Wanggai of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta
\nsaid students at the state college have revived the student
\ncouncil, in defiance of the government 1979 ban, in the hope of
\nrestoring campus politics.<\/p>\n
\"Despite no recognition from the university's administration,
\nthe council has the support of the majority of the students,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Velix said the council, with 40 senators, has conducted a
\nseries of campus activities since its establishment in December.<\/p>\n
Hendardi from the legal foundation, and a past chairman of the
\nstudents council of the Bandung Technological Institute, warned
\nthe students at the discussion not to expect the government to
\ngive in to their demands without a struggle.<\/p>\n
Hendardi said the government has a strong interest in keeping
\nthe current political status quo of university campuses.<\/p>\n
Void of politics on campuses, some students from various
\nuniversities in the country have formed a network to coordinate
\ntheir activities and position on a number of issues. Many of
\nthese activists have organized protests on a range of issues,
\nfrom land disputes to human rights. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/student-activists-want-campus-freedom-restored-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}