Violence returns to state institute

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, bandung

Controversy has again hit the Institute of Public Administration (STPDN) in Sumedang, West Java, in connection with bullying by senior students.

Ichsan S., a 19-year-old student from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, is undergoing psychological counseling at Al-Islam hospital in the West Java capital of Bandung.

Ichsan's father, Capt. Hanafiah, who is the West Langsa district military chief in Aceh, said on Monday that doctors had recommended that his son undergo two months of counseling.

Hanafiah said that Ichsan told him, doctors and police that he had been bullied by a group of senior students from Aceh on Oct. 16 at around 1 a.m.

The senior student was reportedly ordered to carry a 20- kilogram barbell with one hand, Hanafiah added. "My son is not very strong and was unable to hold the weights up. The barbell fell on his head."

Hanafiah met STPDN administrators on Monday and asked them to take responsibility for the incident by taking action against his son's tormentors.

Sumedang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yoyok Subagiono, who visited Ichsan at Al-Islam hospital on Monday, said his office had identified the suspects in the case.

"Based on a medical examination, the victim is suffering psychological trauma due to the violence perpetrated against him. But he has no physical injuries," Yoyok said.

He said the police would summon the suspects for questioning within two days.

STPDN head I Nyoman Sumaryadi said he would also investigate the case, confirming that Ichsan was hit by a barbell.

The institute, which imposes military-style discipline on its students, made headlines last year when SCTV television station broadcast video footage of brutality there, which caused the death of Wahyu Hidayat, who was beaten by 20 seniors.

More than 10 STPDN students were jailed over the death. Wahyu was not the first victim of student violence at the institute. Three years ago, student Erie Rakhman died after being beaten by seniors.