Students block Andi Ghalib

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Students at the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) prevented former attorney general Andi M. Ghalib from promoting his new book on the campus on Tuesday.

A discussion of the book, titled Menepis Badai Menegakkan Supremasi Hukum (Avoiding the storm, upholding the supremacy of the law), scheduled be held at the institute had to be moved to the nearby provincial office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

IAIN student council chairman Atok Suharto said the book represented Ghalib's attempt to defend his failure to uphold the law during his term as attorney general.

"We forbid Ghalib from coming here because he does not meet our standards. He is just trying to justify his past actions in order to make himself feel better," Atok told The Jakarta Post.

Ghalib said the students could not understand the contents of his book.

In the book, Ghalib states that his efforts to try former president Soeharto for corruption were blocked by former president B.J. Habibie and former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto. (27/jun)