'What about civilian supremacy?'

'What about civilian supremacy?'

The recent death of a student at the Public Administration
Institute (STPDN), Wahyu Hidayat, shocked the public as he was
allegedly beaten to death by his seniors. While the police are
investigating the case and the Ministry of Home Affairs finally
fired the institute's head, demands have been rising for the
ministry to close down the school. The Jakarta Post talked to
some people about the violence in the state-run school.

Eka Wenats, 33, is a lecturer in political philosophy at the
Atma Jaya Catholic University in Central Jakarta. He lives in
Meruya, West Jakarta, with his wife and son:

The education system in the STPDN is rotten. The institute
still applies a militaristic approach to educate future
bureaucrats.

It is ironic. It is supposed to be the era of civilian
supremacy, with the emphasis being placed on accountable and
transparent civilian officials.

Such a militaristic approach will only hurt people. How can
candidate district chiefs who act like military commanders serve
the public?

I put the blame on those behind the education concepts
employed. Why must violence be taught to candidate civil
servants?

We need better and more intelligent bureaucrats who are
educated based upon a more humane curriculum in order to produce
responsible district chiefs.

However, I don't think it's necessary to close down the STPDN.
The ministry only needs to improve the educational paradigms
employed.

Dian, 32, is a post graduate student of the University of
Indonesia in Central Jakarta. She resides in Kayu Jati, East
Jakarta, with her husband and daughter:

As far as I know, the military-style approach for students has
long been banned due to its fatal results in many cases.

I wonder how well the ban has been implemented as we now have
the STPDN case.

As usual, the government only reacted after widespread
exposure in the press and pressure from the public.

I'm sure this death of an STPDN student is only one of many
unreported cases.

The institute should be totally reformed, otherwise the
candidate bureaucrats will be encouraged to perpetrate violence
as they were taught during their college days.

If I were the mother of a student who suffered from violence,
I would report this to the media as the government lacks
accountability and responsiveness.

Irene, 18, is a new student at Tarumanegara University in West
Jakarta. She lives in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, with her
family:

I was shocked when watching the footage of torture on
television.

I can't understand why bureaucrat candidates must be tortured
by their seniors, who are also bureaucrat candidates. It's worse
to see that the seniors seemingly enjoying torturing their
juniors.

I think the education system in the STPDN does not make any
sense. Why should young people who want to study be beaten?
Violence is absolutely intolerable in most ways.

I'm afraid if the education system applied in the STPDN
remains unchanged, educated people will become used to violence.
I can't imagine how the students will act in the future, once
they become bureaucrats.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.