Rectors back students' push for reform

Rectors back students' push for reform

BANDUNG (JP): State and private university rectors, declaring
their allegiance would always remain with their students, gave
their stamp of approval on Saturday to student activists' crusade
for reform.

A gathering of 159 rectors and administrators issued a five-
point declaration which included an entreaty to the Armed Forces
(ABRI) to protect students putting on the line their "moral and
intellectual force" for sustainable reform.

"Rectors will always side with the students ... We urge ABRI
to protect students," said the declaration titled "Agreement of
All-Indonesia Rectors Meeting".

Calling for a fair and just general election, it offered to
have members of the academic community serve as independent
observers of the polls. The rectors believed the move would boost
national and international confidence in the election.

The rectors also advocated an independent judiciary and
effective legislation to root out the practices of corruption,
collusion and nepotism.

Signing on behalf of the group were Bandung Institute of
Technology (ITB) rector Lilik Hendrajaya, Trisakti University
rector Thoby Mutis and Ujungpandang Veterans University rector
Anwar Arifin.

Participants who convened at ITB's Sasana Budaya Ganesha hall
came from across Java, Sumatra, Bali and Irian Jaya. They dubbed
the agreement the "Bandung Declaration".

Lilik said they would submit their demands to the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session.

Thoby added they would also provide previous input concerning
reform in universities to the Assembly to ensure it would not be
"thrown into the garbage can just like that".

Lilik said: "We'll get these (declaration) points across to
the Special Session, whatever way we can."

The rectors joined students in expressing concern of the
military's long-established role in politics.

Participants were divided on whether to declare support for
the session.

Thoby argued that differences in opinion were part of
democracy and "we appreciate that". Ultimately, the declaration
contained no endorsement or condemnation of the session

They also expressed concern over "counter demonstrations" to
student protests on the session, and believed they were
potentially damaging.

Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono expressed a
similar concern on Friday, warning that demonstrations and
counter demonstrations could lead to riots.

"So, let's not be provoked to mobilize masses to wage
demonstrations and counter demonstrations," he said in Jakarta.
(43/aan)