Dean has to sack assistant

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The dean of the School of Philosophy at Gadjah Mada University has agreed to remove his assistant under pressure from 'student power'.

Dean Soeprapto made this promise Saturday, ending a peaceful demonstration by about 300 students that began Thursday.

He told the students that R. Parmono, who has been his assistant since 1994, would be removed pending approval from the university rector and the Ministry of Education and Culture.

The students blamed Parmono for interfering in their student senate's activities.

They listed other demands such as debureaucratization, greater accountability, greater autonomy to run their own senate and an end to what they call despotism at the university.

They accused Parmono of meddling in the senate's affairs, including the selection of members for various committees, and making students submit the keys to the office of their on-campus magazine, Pijar.

Parmono reportedly defended his decision, saying it was his job to make sure the senate's activities did not disturb classes.

Existentialism was the theme of the philosophy students in the demonstration.

"I rebel therefore I exist," they chanted, citing the French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre.

They also chanted "We shall overcome", "Bloody struggle" and "The Philosophy March" while carrying posters that read "Trim Bureaucracy".

Those taking part were mostly first and second year students.

The student protesters hounded a man who had been video-taping the demonstration, believing he was a plainclothes intelligence officer. (23/01)