Former students lend support to fired teacher
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
About 50 former students of SMPN 56 junior high school demonstrated on Monday at the State Administrative Court in East Jakarta in support of teacher Nurlaila, who is suing Governor Sutiyoso over her dismissal.
"We have come to support our beloved teacher. She does not deserve to be treated like this. We want to pressure the judges to side with the people, not the state officials," said Aditia, a former student of SMPN 56, which was located in Melawai, South Jakarta, before being closed down by the administration last year.
"Nurlaila is a living example of the saying 'heroes without medals'. Instead of being punished, she should be honored. This proves that there is no appreciation for teachers here," he said.
Aditia is one of hundreds of SMPN 56 students who were transferred to different schools in South Jakarta after their school was closed.
SMPN 56 shut down after being involved in a land swap deal between the Ministry of National Education and PT Tata Disantara, a company owned by former manpower minister Abdul Latief.
Nurlaila, who taught civics, is the only SMPN 56 teacher who refused to accept a transfer to the school's new location in Jeruk Purut, South Jakarta.
She was fired last December by gubernatorial decree, though her dismissal was made retroactive to February 2004. According to the decree, by refusing a transfer she had abandoned her duties.
The court was scheduled on Monday to hear arguments from lawyers representing Sutiyoso. However, the lawyers from the Jakarta Administration Legal Office requested an additional week to finish their arguments.
Presiding judge Kadar Slamet then offered Nurlaila's lawyers the opportunity to read out their client's demands.
"Considering that this case has attracted the attention of the media and the public, I decided to give the plaintiff's lawyers a chance to read out their demands, to help the public understand the case," Kadar said.
Of the 20 lawyers representing Nurlaila, four took turns reading out an 11-page document that included the demand that the governor annul Nurlaila's dismissal and reinstate her full rights as a civil servant, including the payment of her salary and benefits dating back to 2003.
Endang Sumardi, the lone defense lawyer who attended the session, said Governor Sutiyoso would not annul Nurlaila's dismissal, which he called appropriate for the situation.
"A civil servant should be willing to do his or her job wherever he or she is instructed to do so," Endang said.(006)