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)