UI rector disobeys court's orders

JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer of six students from the University of Indonesia (UI) said on Wednesday that the university rector had disobeyed the court's order to delay imposing administrative sanctions against the students.

"Rector Asman Boedi Santoso's disobedience to the court's order reflects his arrogance and the university's repressive attitude toward democracy on campus," lawyer Christina Rini Yuliarti told journalists at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) office.

She said LBH had just sent a letter to the Jakarta State Administrative Court asking the court to warn the rector about his arrogant attitude.

LBH will also ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to reprimand the rector for not executing the court's ruling, she said.

The six students, who were suspended for between six months and one year for conducting a rally last year, filed their lawsuit against the rector on Feb. 1. They demanded that the suspension, signed by the rector, be revoked and that Rp 5 million (US$526) in damages be awarded.

In a preliminary ruling last week the Jakarta Administrative Court ordered the UI rector to postpone the students' suspension and allow them to continue their studies.

"(The rector) must not take any action which could impede the plaintiffs' studies while their (legal) action is still being considered by the court," the ruling stated.

Christina said she and her clients had gone to see the rector a day after the court's ruling was issued but he refused to meet with them.

The rector's lawyer, Retno, had earlier said that the rector would issue a decision in response to the court's ruling on Feb. 13.

"But on Feb. 13, the rector stated his objection to the ruling and had filed his objection with the court," Retno said.

Christina said the students had begun attending lectures despite the rectorate's rejection of their registration proposal.

"We're not registered as students but we will join the lectures because the lecturers allow us to do so," Dhoho A. Sastro, one of the suspended students told The Jakarta Post. (01)