The Facts Behind IAKN Kupang Rector's Assault Report Against Former Rector

A conflict between the rector and former rector of the Christian State Religious Institute (IAKN) Kupang has shaken the campus. Rector I Made Suardana reported to the Kupang City Police over an alleged assault committed by former rector Harun Natonis. Harun immediately denied Made’s accusation and is preparing to file a counter-report for criminal defamation.

The incident occurred in the postgraduate courtyard of IAKN Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Monday morning (31/8/2026). “I was assaulted this morning, after the morning assembly,” said Made from the ICU ward of RSB Kupang.

Made explained that the incident began when, after the morning assembly, Harun suddenly approached him and questioned the matter of his promotion, which he claimed had not been resolved for about two years.

Responding to the question, Made answered that the matter had been handled. “I answered at the time that if the required decree documents were available, the process could be carried out immediately,” Made explained.

According to Made, Harun made a statement to him before the alleged blow occurred. “Not long after, Harun Natonis struck me once in the chest,” he said.

Chest Pain After Being Struck

Made has reported the alleged assault to the Kupang City Police. He hopes the case will be handled thoroughly. “Until now my chest is still painful, and the doctor said I need to be hospitalised,” he said.

Separately, the Head of Criminal Investigation at Kupang City Police, AKP Jumpatua Simanjorang, confirmed receiving the assault report. “Yes, that is correct. This afternoon the victim filed a police report. An assault report,” said Jumpatua.

He said the victim has undergone a post-mortem examination (visum et repertum) at Bhayangkara Hospital. Made and several witnesses will next be questioned.

“The plan is for the victim and witnesses to be summoned to the Criminal Investigation Unit tomorrow to give their statements,” he added.

Jumpatua added that the article under which the suspect is charged could change depending on the results of the medical examination and the course of the investigation. “For now, the police report cites Article 466 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code concerning assault,” said Jumpatua.

“We will see the results of the medical examination and the investigation. The charge could change depending on the medical findings. If the injury is minor, we will use Article 466 paragraph 1; if it is serious, we will use paragraph 2,” he concluded.

Former Rector Denies

Harun Natonis denied the accusation of assault against I Made Suardana. Harun insisted he never struck or even touched Made. “I guarantee 1,000 per cent I did not hit him. I did not touch him at all. That is nonsense. I will file a counter-report for defamation,” Harun asserted when contacted by telephone on Monday evening.

Harun explained that he had only wanted to ask about his rank administration, which remains unclear to this day.

“I came, I said good morning and asked permission to ask about my rank. I just wanted to know who has actually been questioning my rank and what the problem is that it was cancelled,” explained the rector of IAKN Kupang for the 2020-2024 period.

Harun admitted that a commotion occurred when the rector tried to enter the room. At that moment, Harun wanted Made not to leave and for the matter to be resolved first. However, he was blocked by campus security, staff and lecturers at the location.

“It was actually he who was moving here and there, trying to enter the room. I tried to hold him back. But I could not, because there were campus security, staff and lecturers blocking me so I could not get close,” explained the postgraduate lecturer and one of the founders of IAKN Kupang.

Harun insisted that the assault accusation against him be proven so that the matter can be examined objectively.

“If anyone recorded it, perhaps a staff member or another lecturer did. It must be shown whether I really hit him or not. Please check the recording,” he asserted.

According to Harun, Made is now being treated at RSB Kupang, but not because of the dispute between the two. “If he has been admitted to hospital and so on, I think that is another matter. It has nothing to do with me at all,” he said.

Originating from a Promotion Dispute

Harun explained that the matter originated from a dispute over his rank as a civil servant (ASN), not a personal issue.

He explained that he arrived at IAKN Kupang on Monday morning to ask Rector I Made Suardana directly about the status of his rank, which remains unclear.

Harun said that on 1 October 2024, he received a promotion from Senior Principal Civil Servant IV/a to Principal Civil Servant IV/b. However, less than a month later, on 31 October 2024, the Rector of IAKN Kupang allegedly sent a letter to the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) to cancel Harun’s promotion.

“On 1 October 2024, I was promoted from 4A to 4B. Then, without me knowing what was actually going on, on 31 October 2024, the Rector of IAKN Kupang wrote a letter to BKN to cancel my promotion,” Harun explained.

Harun said he only learned of the cancellation in March 2025 when he requested a salary adjustment. Since then, he has met the Rector several times to question the legal basis for the cancellation, but has not received an explanation.

“I have been waiting for two years because they said it was being fixed. I have waited for two years, but the correction process never happened,” he said.

He hopes the issue of his promotion cancellation does not shift into an alleged assault issue. “I hope the Rector of IAKN Kupang does not divert attention from the core issue,” Harun added.