30 teams enter English debating competition at UI

30 teams enter English debating competition at UI

JAKARTA (JP): Should the Indonesian military remain in
politics? Should Indonesia lease some of its islands? Is Asterix
really mightier than Obelix? Are monarchies really a thing of the
past? Should anyone ever become a sex symbol?

These are some of the issues -- 90 altogether -- that have
been offered by organizers of the inaugural university English
debating tournament which begins this weekend at the University
of Indonesia (UI) campus.

The Indonesian Varsities English Debate 1998 will see 30 teams
-- each with three speakers -- from 19 universities across the
country displaying their debating skills on issues ranging from
politics and gender conflict, to humor.

The University of Indonesia English debating society, which is
organizing the Aug. 1-3 tournament, has selected the Australian
parliamentary format for the event, promising a boisterous yet
eloquent and stinging contest of words and wit.

The winning team will be nominated for the world English
debating tournament which takes place in December, Achmad
Nurhoeri Sukarsono, president of the debating society, said.

Achmad represented the University of Indonesia at the fourth
Asian English debating competition in Singapore last year.

Hisal Maruli Manurung, who supervises the debating society,
said Indonesia lagged behind most of its neighbors when it came
to debating in English because it had only just begun to develop
the tradition. In contrast, Singapore and the Philippines have
had participants qualifying for the latter stages of
international competitions, he added.

The tournament this weekend is the start of efforts to make
debate in English a tradition among Indonesian students and to
unearth any hidden talents which may be lurking around the
nation's campuses.

The tournament is sponsored by RCTI, a private television
station. According to the tournament organizers, the sponsor will
broadcast some of the debates on television. Members of the
public are welcome to join the audience. (emb)