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)