Student's death during hazing raises questions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A forensic expert said on Wednesday he suspected
\nviolence was involved in the death of a freshman during hazing at
\nhis university on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Mu'nim Idries of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital said he
\ncould not determine the exact cause of 21-year-old Suryowati
\nHagus Darayanto's death, although a postmortem examination was
\nperformed on the body on Wednesday morning. However, he did say
\nbruises were found on the head and chest of the student.<\/p>\n
\"Obviously it was not a natural death,\" Mu'nim told The
\nJakarta Post. He said there were signs the bruises
\nwere caused by blunt objects, adding that the student was
\napparently in good health and there were no indications he was a
\ndrug addict.<\/p>\n
Suryowati was a freshman at the National Institute of Science
\nand Technology (ISTN) majoring in engineering. His parents
\nbrought his body home on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
His mother, Siti Dara, said her son was in good health before
\ntaking part in the university's recommended four-day initiation
\nceremony, which was scheduled to end on Thursday.<\/p>\n
However, Suryowati's friends said they told him to go home on
\nMonday, the first day of the ceremony, after he complained of
\nfeeling unwell. Suryowati refused this advice and continued to
\ntake part in the initiation.<\/p>\n
Suryowati collapsed on Tuesday evening and was rushed to
\nBhakti Yudha Hospital in Depok. He died some 15 minutes after
\narriving at the hospital.<\/p>\n
The final two days of the initiation ceremony have been
\ncanceled. ISTN officials were not available for comment, while
\nstudents who were involved in organizing the ceremony refused to
\ndiscuss Suryowati's death.<\/p>\n
South Jakarta Police chief Col. Satrya Harry Prasetya told the
\nPost the incident had been reported to his office. A number of
\nwitnesses to the incident were summoned by the police on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
\"I am still waiting for the report on the postmortem
\nexamination to determine the cause of the student's death,\"
\nSatrya said, adding he would coordinate with the university's
\nrectorate and the initiation committee in the investigation.<\/p>\n
Over the years, initiation ceremonies at several universities
\nhave been marred by tragedy, with a number of freshmen losing
\ntheir lives. Parents have lodged complaints in an effort to ban
\nsuch ceremonies.<\/p>\n
One such incident took place in 1997 when The Manto, a student
\nfrom private Tarumanegara University died during an initiation
\nceremony. Three students from the university were tried for
\nmanslaughter.<\/p>\n
Hazing at Atma Jaya University was protested by the public
\nearlier this month following reports of sexual harassment against
\nfreshmen. (04\/ylt)<\/p>",
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