Kampar in the spotlight

Kampar in the spotlight

Kampar district in Indonesia's Riau province has been under the spotlight since last Tuesday's outbreak of massive protests by local teachers and students.

The teachers and students were calling for the resignation of regent Jefri Noer, whom they accused of insulting the teaching profession.

On Feb. 5, Jefri arrogantly ordered high school principal, Abdul Latif Hasyim, to leave a meeting after the latter questioned the region's? low education budget.

Since then, some 7,000 teachers and about 10,000 students have taken to the streets to protest Jefri's arbitrary act.

The situation got out of hand after the Kampar district head threatened to replace the demonstrating teachers with new ones from other regions.

However, the teachers have continued their strike without taking heed of the threat, even gaining the support of their colleagues from the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) in Jakarta.

According to PGRI, the teachers' rally in Kampar is not politically motivated but purely a protest at the insult of the Kampar regent toward the teaching profession.

The issue prompted the local legislative assembly to form a special team to deal with the insult. On Wednesday, the team ordered Jefri to leave his post as regent.

As Jefri expelled Latif from the meeting, other "Latifs" from other areas will emerge to topple the injustice that is plaguing the country, for we are fed up at the government's hypocrisy.

-- Republika, Jakarta