Police question UGM student

YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta Police questioned the president of the Gadjah Mada University (UGM)'s student executive board, Romi Ardiansyah, on Monday after university rector Sofian Effendi filed a defamation complaint against the student.

The complaint dates back to a protest by students on Dec. 20 last year to demand transparency in the use of university funds, student involvement in making policies and improvements in the quality of education offered at the university.

During the protest, some students carried posters with pictures of the rector on them and the words "Most Wanted" beneath the rector's face. Sofian filed a complaint with the police on Jan. 13, 2005.

"The protest was well intentioned. If the rector cannot take criticism and does not allow students the freedom to think, that means UGM as an educational institution is just waiting to die," Romi said after being questioned by police for an hour.

During the questioning, hundreds of UGM students held a demonstration in front of the police headquarters to show their support for Romi, as well as to demand Sofian account for the use of operational funds and donations to the university. -- JP