Protest at Satya Wacana

SALATIGA, Central Java: Several hundred students and teachers of Satya Wacana Christian University staged a peaceful demonstration yesterday in protest of the management's inability to resolve the year-old conflict sparked by last year's dismissal of a popular lecturer.

Under the heavy presence of security officers, the protesters criticized rector John JOI Ihalauw for his inability to end the dispute which has occasionally broken into physical clashes between opposing camps.

The tension was triggered by the dismissal of outspoken academic Arief Budiman in November last year for disciplinary reasons. His supporters describe the dismissal as unfair and are demanding his reinstatement.

Last month, Arief won the legal battle over his firing but the university's management has said it will appeal.

The demonstrators filed a petition with the management and the founding churches, saying that lecturers will go on strike until the dispute is settled. (har/pan)