Penalty sought for activists

Penalty sought for activists

DILI (JP): The local military pressured East Timor University
officials yesterday to punish students involved in political
activities.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Rivai told journalists after meeting with
university officials that many students have been involved in
political activities, which he said is in violation of college
rules.

"We told the university's officials not to hesitate to take
punitive action against recalcitrant students," Rivai said after
a meeting held behind closed doors.

Present at the meeting were local senior military officials,
vice governor J. Haribowo, acting rector Armindo Maia and deans
of the university's socio-political and education departments.

A meeting between officials and East Timor University students
were canceled for reasons Rivai declined to disclose.

The university was the target of numerous anti-government
demonstrations. Rivai alleged that some students were involved in
a recent flurry of violent protests.

He urged university officials to have the courage to punish
"recalcitrant" students.

"If no action is taken, the situation could develop into
anarchy," he said. "University officials have to understand
this."

In a recent incident, a student threw a bottle of mineral
water at officials of the National Commission on Human Rights who
were visiting to discuss a case.

Such an incident, he said, should not pass without the culprit
being punished.

Rivai said the meeting aimed to find a solution to the
university and government's common problems concerning political
activities involving students. (33/pan)