8 debaters to train for 2005 world meet

JAKARTA: The second Indonesian Schools Debate Championship wrapped up on Wednesday, when judges selected eight speakers to attend a two-month intensive training workshop to prepare for the world meet set for February 2005.

High school students Siti Soraya Cassandra and Alamanda Vania of Al Izhar Jakarta, Natalia Hermanto of Penabur 3 Jakarta, Aditya Rakhman of SMU 2 Bengkulu, Tirza Reinata and Dewi Wijayanti of SMU 34 Jakarta, Taufik Ramadhan Indrakesuma of SMU 8 Jakarta and Haidar Buldan of SMU 6 Yogyakarta have made the initial selection; only four will emerge to represent the country at the world competition in Canada.

Jakarta team members Soraya, Natalia and Alvin Susanto of SMU Karunia won the championship earlier in the day after beating East Kalimantan in a debate on whether retired military officers were suitable for the presidency. Jakarta was declared the debate champions, as they delivered a convincing argument supported by particular examples that ex-military officers did not always succeed in running a government.

In the mixed team event -- with teams comprising students from different provinces -- Ni Wayan Desi Aryanti of SMU 4 Denpasar, and Aditya and Diah Amalia of SMU 17 Makassar took the trophy. -- JP