Parahyangan teams rule the first EU debate championship

Students hugged each other, some screamed and the others made surprised faces when they heard their groups made it to the final round.

Two teams from Bandung's Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) took the final battle in the first EU Intervarsity Debate Championship held at Usmar Ismail Film Industry Center in South Jakarta.

Shafira Ayunindya from the first team of Unpar said that it was like a dream that both teams were finalists.

"We rehearsed together several times, so we knew each other's weakness and strengths," she said.

Shafira, together with I Made Diangga and Dimas Muhammad who represented the affirmative group, came second. The first prize went to the negative group of Made Abigail Ayu Sutika, Rara Sekar Larasati and Muhammad Wafa Taftazani.

The first winner received Rp 30 million (US$3,000) and a chance to complete an internship with the EU representative office in Jakarta.

They defeated 20 teams from several universities, including Brawijaya University in Malang, Diponegoro University in Semarang, Andalas University in Padang and Tarumanegara University in Jakarta.

In the debate, they argued on issues related to human rights, international trade, climate change, economy and good governance.

In the final round, both teams debated eloquently in flawless English on whether EU and Indonesia are natural partners.

The affirmative group argued that the bound between them was natural as they shared common values, including the values of democracy and human rights.

Their stance was countered for their rival thought it could not be that simple.

"The distance and language are still the barriers. Also, it's more like we need EU more, not the other way around," one of the negative members team said.

After the debate, German Ambassador to Indonesia Norbert Baas, also one of the abjudicators, said that arguments for both sides would definitely be input for the EU.

"Thanks for the inspiration. We'll consider the ideas you put forward," he said.

Julian Wilson, another judge, said that the during the debate the students formed a solid grasp of the subject, which allowed them to learn more about Europe and Indonesia and its relationship.

"They are very vivacious, strong-willed and are the great faces of Indonesia. The second is that we're trying to building people-to-people contact. We want to build up more of the cooperation we have with individual universities," he said.

The judges were Pribadi Sutiono from Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Julian Wilson, Belgian Ambassador to Indonesia Christiaan Tanghe, Norbert Baas, Italian Ambassador to Indonesia Roberto Palmieri and Austrian Embassy's Charge d'Affaires Romana Konigsbrun.

Wafa, a participant from Unpar said that although it was the first time he participated in a debate, it had taught him to see everything from two sides.

"The opposition is also right, their arguments were also valid, their basis was strong enough," he said.

While for Angga Kho Meidy, a participant from the University of Indonesia who has been taking part in debating competitions since high school, said through debating he could learn to be more critical.

"I can be more open and critical, and also learn about how to speak well in public," the computer engineering student said.