T

he senate board of Universitas Katolik Parahiyangan (Unpar) plans to hold a meeting on Thursday to decide the fate of Anak Agung Banyu Perwita, an academic accused of plagiarizing.

“We will discuss the issue tomorrow at 9 a.m. at a meeting attended by 40 senate members,” said Johannes Gunawan, who heads the senate board.

He said the meeting was a follow-up from a recommendation letter sent by the Science and Politics Department (FISIP)’s senate board where Banyu teaches.

“The FISIP senate held a meeting yesterday and they drew recommendations that will be discussed in tomorrow’s meeting,” Johannes said.

Banyu was found guilty of plagiarizing between four and six pieces of academic work, according to Unpar Rector Cecilia Lauw, as reported on Sinar Baru Indonesia online.

However, his case first flared up when The Jakarta Post issued a disclaimer on its Feb. 4, 2010 edition.

“The Post finds his article RI as a new middle power?, published on Nov. 12, 2009 is very similar to a piece written by Carl Ungerer, The ‘Middle Power’ Concept in Australian Foreign Policy,” read the disclaimer.

Ungerer’s article was published in the Australian Journal of Politics and History: Volume 53, Number 4, 2007.

“In terms of both ideas and in the phrases used, it is evident this is not the original work of the writer,” the Post stated, and declared it would withdraw the article.

Banyu, who at 40 was the youngest academic to attain a professor title in 2008, faces expulsion from his almamater and removal of his title. His fate will be decided by the board on Thursday.

Johannes said Banyu’s case was the first case of plagiarism at the university.

Banyu’s colleague Asep Warlan described the former as a young, energetic and progressive teacher.

Completing his bachelor program in international relations at the university in 1990, he obtained a scholarship in 1992 to study a masters degree at Lancaster University.   

He was bestowed a doctoral title from Flinders University, Adelaide in 2002, and his speech on “Security affairs in international  relations and its implications for Indonesia” won him the professor accolade.

On learning that his plagiarism case was uncovered, Banyu tendered a resignation letter on Monday, but the university foundation plans to discharge Banyu with dishonor, the rector said.

Cecilia said that Banyu learned of the case when she read an email carrying quotations from the Post last Thursday. She said that she duly invited Banyu to discuss the issue.

“He confessed to the plagiarism, but he argued it was a slipup,” Cecilia said as quoted on Sinar Indonesia Baru.

As recommended, Banyu apologized, she said. However, it was not over yet as Cecilia later received information from someone who asked her to open a portal.

“It mentioned that Banyu had plagiarized six times,” she said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Banyu could not be reached by phone or  text message.