Debate rises over political campaigns at universities

Debate rises over political campaigns at universities

Agencies, Jakarta

Students constitute one of the largest groups of voters in next
year's general elections, but universities throughout the country
are wary about opening their doors to political campaigns.

The new election law bans campaigns from campuses unless they
have been approved by the campus authority.

Several universities said they wanted to stimulate political
debate, but refused to be host to a mass showing of party
supporters as commonly seen during campaigns.

Many political parties often include a mass of party
supporters in their campaigns as a show of force.

"A campus is, after all, a place to study, and as such it
mustn't be mixed with political affairs," said Hadi Suprapto
Arifin, spokesman of Padjadjaran University in Bandung, which has
decided against political campaigns on its campus.

Hadi said the university was concerned about politics creating
a rift among its students.

There is little concern of this at the Bandung Institute of
Technology (ITB): "Isolation means promoting ignorance within the
campus," ITB rector Kusmayanto Kadiman told The Jakarta Post,
explaining his decision to allow campaigns.

However, he also refused to admit a large mass of party
supporters during the campaigns.

Political parties may even get vital feedback from students on
how to improve their programs, said Gunarto, dean of the law
faculty at the Islamic University of Sultan Agung in the Central
Java city of Semarang.

In Yogyakarta, Muhammadiyah University has also opened its
doors to political campaigns.

"In fact, we are preparing the various campaign formats that
fit our academic environment," said rector Khoerudin Bashori.

Political maturity among students had to be taken into
account, said to Koento Wibisono, a lecturer of social politics
at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, and the former head of
KAGAMA, the university's student association.

"Whether or not political campaigns can be held at campuses
depends on how students handle (political) differences," said
Koento as quoted by Kedaulatan Rakyat daily last week.

He said it was common for campaigners to overreact or to voice
provoking statements, something that would not be a problem if
the audience consisted of supporters only. On campus, however,
such campaign moves could draw the anger of the opposition, thus
Koento suggested that campaigners tone down their statements.

"Campaigns at a university campus are different from those in
open areas," said Minister of National Education Abdul Malik
Fadjar on Saturday.

"Let them (campaigns) be arranged by the rectors along with
the academic community," he said.

The fear of disturbing the peace at universities was likely
what lay behind Section G, Article 74 of the election law that
bans campaigns at educational institutions.

Students are a fat target for campaigners, as Indonesians may
start voting at the age of 17.

However, a number of surveys showed that students were also
the ones most likely to not vote in the 2004 elections.

Students have been at the forefront of political reforms since
a student movement in 1998 toppled then President Soeharto's
three decades of authoritarian rule.

But the slow political changes in the years following, have
deepened their anti-political party sentiment.

In Surabaya, student bodies from several universities refused
to let any campaigns on their campuses. Disappointed with the new
election law, they argued that the upcoming election would be
undemocratic, Antara reported.

Daniel Sparringa, a political analyst at Surabaya's Airlangga
University, said their refusal made sense because otherwise, the
campaigns could turn into a forum for hate.