Student activists want campus freedom restored

Student activists want campus freedom restored

JAKARTA (JP): A discussion yesterday on student politics reached the widely expected conclusion: Restore campus freedom.

Students taking part in the one-day discussion, organized by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said they feel that the government's policy of "neutralizing" university campuses has been at the expense of dulling students' creativity.

The participants, who came from universities in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bandung, said the government has virtually taken over the campuses to effectively put down any student political activism.

This has got to stop, the speakers said, adding that it's time the students started developing their identities.

"All government regulations designed to prevent students from getting involved in politics should be replaced," Lina, of the Indonesian Student Solidarity for Democracy which organized the discussion, said in reading the meeting's conclusion.

The government insists that university campuses should be spared from political activities and that students wishing to engage in politics should join one of the three political organizations. Campuses could organize academic discussions on politics but that is as far as it goes.

The government also gave university rectors full control in appointing student senates. In the 1970s, the senates were elected representatives of the students.

Velix V. Wanggai of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta said students at the state college have revived the student council, in defiance of the government 1979 ban, in the hope of restoring campus politics.

"Despite no recognition from the university's administration, the council has the support of the majority of the students," he said.

Velix said the council, with 40 senators, has conducted a series of campus activities since its establishment in December.

Hendardi from the legal foundation, and a past chairman of the students council of the Bandung Technological Institute, warned the students at the discussion not to expect the government to give in to their demands without a struggle.

Hendardi said the government has a strong interest in keeping the current political status quo of university campuses.

Void of politics on campuses, some students from various universities in the country have formed a network to coordinate their activities and position on a number of issues. Many of these activists have organized protests on a range of issues, from land disputes to human rights. (rms)