Habibie reprimands LIPI staff

Habibie reprimands LIPI staff

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie has reprimanded 19 researchers of the National Institute
of Sciences who issued a statement last month demanding a new
national leader.

Habibie said yesterday the researchers were guilty of using
the institute and its facilities for an activity unrelated to
their jobs.

"People who carry out routine jobs should not use their
offices or their facilities for other business. It's bad
conduct," Habibie was quoted as saying by Antara.

"They (the intellectuals) have their own channel for
disclosing their research results (that is) in scientific
publications, not in joint statements," Habibie said on the
sidelines of a House of Representatives hearing.

Head of the institute, Soefjan Tsauri, criticized as a
violation of ethics the manner in which the researchers unveiled
their concerns about the economic crisis, but said the case was
closed.

He said he would not set in place administrative sanctions
against the researchers.

"Researchers may sometimes do wrong, but they never tell
lies," said Soefjan who attended a separate hearing at the House
yesterday.

He said he could not ban the researchers from making
statements because they did so in their personal capacities.

The 19 researchers called last month for the election of a new
president saying it was necessary if the country intended to heal
its ailing economy.

They said they doubted the present government could lead the
nation out of the crisis, mainly because of its stubborn refusal
to undertake comprehensive reform. (amd)