Atmajaya remains closed during polls

JAKARTA (JP): Atma Jaya University, the only university located near the capital's main thoroughfares, is closed to academic and student activities from May 19 to June 8, or one day after the general election.

The assistant to the rector for students affairs, Yohannes Temaluru, said on Thursday only members of the university's voluntary poll watchdog were allowed to enter the campus during the 20-day "holiday".

Members of the poll monitoring team include Atma Jaya lecturers, students and staff, he said.

"All members of the team have their own personal ID card which gives them access to the campus," Yohannes said, adding that the decision to close the campus was made by the university's management board.

Like many other buildings in the heart of the capital, the university, located next to the Semanggi cloverleaf, has erected fences in front of its gates.

"We don't want to take any risks this time," Yohannes said, referring to the incident in November last year when at least six students were killed by troops in a battle which took place in front of the university.

The closing of the university, however, sparked protest from some students.

On Thursday, some 30 students threatened to force their way onto the campus if the management board refused to allow them access to the university.

Bona, a student at the university's School of Law, was quoted by Antara as saying that he and his fellow students had planned to use the campus as a refuge center during the rallies being staged ahead of the elections.

"A refuge center is vital at this time, particularly during rallies held near the Semanggi flyover and on nearby Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin," he said. (ylt)