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