'UI must carry out court's decision'

'UI must carry out court's decision'

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Jakarta Administrative Court has
issued an official letter instructing the rector of the
University of Indonesia to withdraw the suspension of a medical
school student.

Court head Benjamin Mangkoedilaga announced on Tuesday that
the court had decided to withdraw the suspension of Rifardi
Rifiar, but the rector has not carried out the court's order.

Letter of the Minister for Administrative Reform number
B.471/I/1991, issued on May 29, 1991 states that government
officials and agencies must carry out any decision of the court,
Benjamin reminded.

The medical school dean suspended Rifardi for three months,
starting on Nov. 2, for beating-up other students on campus for
damaging his car.

The beating, which led to one student being hospitalized for
11 days with serious injuries, is against campus regulations, the
dean said.

The rector of the University of Indonesia issued a decision on
Dec. 1 to strengthen his subordinate's action.

The student then filed a lawsuit against the dean and rector
with the Jakarta State Administrative Court.

The university's lawyer, Retno Murniati, told the court on
Monday that her clients could not carry out the court's rule
since the suspension began on Dec. 7, while the court began
trying the case on Dec. 14.

Withdrawing the suspension will damage the reputation of the
school of medicine at the University of Indonesia, Retno argued.

Rifardi denied beating-up other students. "I only pushed back
one of the students, named Barlian Sitompul," he said, adding
that the seven other students had damaged his car more than once.

According to Rifardi, the dean issued a letter of suspension
after receiving a complaint from Barlian's father, Barita
Sitompul, who is a senior lecturer at the school of medicine.

Judge Mustahdi will summon the rector on Dec. 26. (29)