Arief wins legal battle against rector

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Outspoken lecturer Arief Budiman won his legal battle against the management of Salatiga's Satya Wacana Christian University over his dismissal last year.

The Semarang State Administrative Court ruled the university rehabilitate Arief's name and compensate him for the material loss he suffered due to the dismissal.

The courtroom, packed by scores of sympathetic students and teachers, burst into thunderous applause when chief judge Sugiyo read the long-awaited verdict.

The postgraduate studies lecturer filed the lawsuit with the local court in September last year, charging that the university's reason for dismissing him besmirched his name.

Last December, Satya Wacana fired Arief, a staunch critic of rector John JOI Ihalauw's election that Arief insists was undemocratic, for allegedly ignoring repeated warnings for being undisciplined.

Arief claimed he was never given a chance to defend himself before the punitive action was imposed on him, apparently because of public statements he made about the way the university elected Ihalauw.

The trial was attended by numerous noted figures such as lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution and hundreds of the university's students and lecturers, as well as local and foreign journalists.

Outside the courtroom, Arief's supporters unfurled banners in praise of the court.

"Justice is not blind," read one poster. "Arief's dismissal was groundless," read another. "We must have courage to say the truth."

"Long live Arief. Long live democracy," the students yelled in front of the court building.

Asked about the verdict, Arief said that he was satisfied with the court's decision.

"The court's legal grounds to approve my lawsuit were in line with the facts and reality," he told The Jakarta Post after the trial.

Arief said that he doubted Ihalauw would resign as many students and teacher have been demanding. He said he would consider teaching at the university again if it is managed by democratic people.

"How can I give lectures in the environment where people are fired simply because they have opinions different from that of the management," he asked. (har/imn)