ISI rector apologizes for abduction

YOGYAKARTA, Central Java: The rector of the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) in Yogyakarta, I Made Bandem, made a public apology through the media on Friday for the abduction of four journalists by students at the institute during a rally last week.

Bandem said that three students who were allegedly behind the abduction had surrendered to Bantul Police for further questioning. He said firm action would be taken against the suspects.

Two journalists and two photographers of Kedaulatan Rakyat and Bernas dailies were abducted by students last week during a protest over the rector's ban of an initiation program for new students, which was considered contradictory to the management's policy.

The students confined the journalists in a locked room for three hours and told them to not run the story about their rally. --JP