Student's death during hazing raises questions
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)