Alumni show concern over violence at administration institute

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 05/12/2007 7:39 AM

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While the inquiry into the recent death of one of its students is still underway, the Institute for Public Administration (IPDN) saw over 240 alumni convene here Friday to express their deep concern over the increasing use of violence at the institute.

In the last three years, two IPDN students have lost their lives as a result of on-campus violence.

The Communication Forum for IPDN Alumni, which organized the event, dismissed speculation that the meeting was held in line with recent violence at the institute, which led to the death of sophomore Cliff Muntu.

Acting IPDN rector Johannes Kalo insisted the meeting was organized to formulate constructive recommendations on how the institute can be revamped and managed.

The forum's chairman, Syafrizal, said all alumni were deeply concerned over Muntu's death and called on the institute to halt its increasing use of violence in order to maintain the campus's prestigious image.

""We are here to formulate a code of ethics for alumni in line with the new paradigm of public administration, which emphasizes public service instead of government,"" he said at a media conference prior to the meeting.

The assembly was the second gathering of IPDN alumni after the Muntu case made headlines. The first was held following the fatal beating of Wahyu Hidayat at the hands of senior IPDN students in 2004.

The rampant use of violence at the institute was revealed by IPDN lecturer Inu Kencana Syafii following the death of Muntu, which is still under police investigation.

Two fresh controversies have rocked the institute lately, with the beating of four junior students by a Papuan student and the detention of three more students for the illegal possession of marijuana.

The use of violence has sparked a strong reaction from the public and the media and has heralded increasing calls for a complete reform of the institute and its curriculum.

A presidential fact-finding team, chaired by former rector of the Institute for Public Administration Ryaas Rasyid, is still investigating violence at the campus in Sumedang, West Java.

The team is expected to submit its investigation results to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono by the end of this month.

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