IAIN students oppose intervention

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Some 70 students from Yogyakarta's Sunan Kalijaga State Academy of Islamic Studies (IAIN) staged a protest here on Tuesday, refusing any form of government intervention in the ongoing election of IAIN's rector.

Calling themselves members of the Light of Enlightenment Party (Partai Sinchan), the students claimed that the Ministry of Religious Affairs had been intervening in the elections of rectors of several IAINs across the country.

As an example of intervention, Partai Sinchan coordinator Zulkifli cited the elections of IAIN rectors in Medan, North Sumatra and Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

"Muhammadiyah cadres were elected rectors in Medan and Banjarmasin, but the ministry, which is currently dominated by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cadres, installed other figures from the NU for the posts," said Zulkifli.

Amin Abdullah, a member of Muhammadiyah's central board, has reportedly received the most votes to lead IAIN's Yogyakarta campus.

The protesters, mostly activists of the IAIN's Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), said they would reject any figures appointed by the government to replace those already elected.

"We must fight any efforts to eliminate democracy on this campus," said Zulkifli.(23)