Whistle-blower moved, to resign

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 05/09/2008 9:38 AM

INU KENCANA SYAFIIE

Inu Kencana Syafiie, the whistle-blower who exposed the violence and corruption at the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) in Bandung, tendered his resignation as a civil servant shortly after his transfer to a job in Jakarta.

Inu, who now teaches at the school run by the Home Ministry, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday he would post his resignation letter directly to the president in the next couple of days.

"The 'promotion', which is meant to keep me from IPDN, has offended my dignity. I'm really disappointed to learn that I am about to be removed when the truth needs to be revealed about the extent of violence, drug abuse, free sex, collusion and corruption at the institute," he said.

"That is why I will be quitting the next couple of days."

He added the resignation letter would also be sent to Home Minister Mardiyanto and his top staff.

Inu, who is now pursuing a doctoral degree at the age of 56, said he had not been given enough notice about his promotion to the Home Ministry office.

"I received the promotion announcement just yesterday (Wednesday). And I came (to the inauguration) today, just to show them (the government) that I am a loyal civil servant. But when they told me I would have to stay calm and stop revealing government secrets, I told the officer there that I opted to resign right after the inauguration," he said.

Inu, who taught public administration at the institute for 17 years, made his first revelation about violence at IPDN in 2003, when a student, Wahyu Hidayat from West Java, died due to maltreatment by senior students.

The former lecturer told the press how authorities there had turned a blind eye to various cases of brutality. He once also appeared on television, though most of his stories were told "behind the scenes".

In 2007, Inu published a book titled IPDN Undercover, reporting on the violence, drugs abuse, free sex and abortion that happened at the institute from 2003 to 2007.

Most recently he filed a report with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over the alleged misuse of state funds allocated for the construction of nine dormitories on the IPDN campus. A total of Rp 31.4 billion (US$3.4 million) was budgeted for the construction project at the state institute for bureaucrats.

He said the case involved IPDN rector, Jonanis Kaloh, and the head of administration, Srimoyo Tamtomo. Inu said the two officials had violated a Home Ministry ruling prohibiting the construction pending a decision on the institute's status.

IPDN is currently in the process of becoming an institute for "public administration sciences", the equivalent of a university. The change is expected to take place by next year.

In response to the report, Johanis and Srimoyo filed a lawsuit against Inu for libel.

Inu said incidents were still occurring at the institute.

"I will reveal new cases before I quit the job. That's a promise," he said. (nkn)

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