UI rector ignores court order and warning
UI rector ignores court order and warning
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers of University of Indonesia (UI) rector
Asman Boedi Santoso said on Monday that their client would
continue with the suspension of six students despite a court
order.
The decision goes against a preliminary ruling and a warning
by the Jakarta State Administrative Court that the rector let the
students attend classes pending the court's verdict over the
case.
"Pak Asman will continue imposing the decision until the court
issues a verdict on the students' lawsuit," coordinator of UI
rector's team of lawyers Retno Murniati told two of the suspended
students, Dipo Asto Prayoga and Maha Wisnu TA, at her office on
UI's Depok campus, south of here.
Retno said the court order instructing the rector to delay the
suspensions had no strong legal grounds.
"Moreover, the rector also filed an objection to the court
order. The court has yet to reply," she said.
The six students, who have been suspended for between six
months and one year for organizing a rally last year, filed suit
against the rector on Feb. 1. They are demanding that the letter
of decision, signed by the rector, be revoked and that Rp 5
million (US$526) in damages be awarded.
In a preliminary ruling on Feb. 8, the administrative court
ordered the UI rector to postpone the suspensions and allow the
students to continue their studies.
Since Asman disobeyed the court order, the administrative
court issued a warning on Feb. 20.
The rector's decision No. 266/SK/R/UI/2000, dated Nov. 16,
2000, prohibits the six students from attending classes and other
university activities beginning January 2001.
Two law students, Lucky Lontoh and Dhoho Ali Sastro, have been
suspended for two semesters. Four other students -- law students
Dipo and Maha Wisnu, literature student Dewi Astuti and
engineering student Fezan Gustamo Rozak -- are also banned from
classes during the first semester of the year.
Dipo told The Jakarta Post that he and his friends could not
attend classes since the rectorate rejected them when they
attempted to register for this semester.
"We are trying to lobby lecturers to let us join the lectures
to save credits," Dipo said.
Separately, one of the students' lawyer, Taufik Basari, told
the Post at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) that
the office would also ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to
reprimand the rector for the disobeying court order and for
ignoring the warning.
"We are now preparing a letter requesting a meeting with
President Abdurrahman Wahid as soon as he returns home from his
overseas trip," Taufik said. (01)