Student's death during hazing raises questions

JAKARTA (JP): A forensic expert said on Wednesday he suspected violence was involved in the death of a freshman during hazing at his university on Tuesday.

Mu'nim Idries of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital said he could not determine the exact cause of 21-year-old Suryowati Hagus Darayanto's death, although a postmortem examination was performed on the body on Wednesday morning. However, he did say bruises were found on the head and chest of the student.

"Obviously it was not a natural death," Mu'nim told The Jakarta Post. He said there were signs the bruises were caused by blunt objects, adding that the student was apparently in good health and there were no indications he was a drug addict.

Suryowati was a freshman at the National Institute of Science and Technology (ISTN) majoring in engineering. His parents brought his body home on Wednesday.

His mother, Siti Dara, said her son was in good health before taking part in the university's recommended four-day initiation ceremony, which was scheduled to end on Thursday.

However, Suryowati's friends said they told him to go home on Monday, the first day of the ceremony, after he complained of feeling unwell. Suryowati refused this advice and continued to take part in the initiation.

Suryowati collapsed on Tuesday evening and was rushed to Bhakti Yudha Hospital in Depok. He died some 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

The final two days of the initiation ceremony have been canceled. ISTN officials were not available for comment, while students who were involved in organizing the ceremony refused to discuss Suryowati's death.

South Jakarta Police chief Col. Satrya Harry Prasetya told the Post the incident had been reported to his office. A number of witnesses to the incident were summoned by the police on Wednesday.

"I am still waiting for the report on the postmortem examination to determine the cause of the student's death," Satrya said, adding he would coordinate with the university's rectorate and the initiation committee in the investigation.

Over the years, initiation ceremonies at several universities have been marred by tragedy, with a number of freshmen losing their lives. Parents have lodged complaints in an effort to ban such ceremonies.

One such incident took place in 1997 when The Manto, a student from private Tarumanegara University died during an initiation ceremony. Three students from the university were tried for manslaughter.

Hazing at Atma Jaya University was protested by the public earlier this month following reports of sexual harassment against freshmen. (04/ylt)