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wo prominent universities, Diponegoro University (Undip) in Semarang, Central Java, and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, have stopped their students from holding activities discussing lesbian or gay issues.

On Thursday, an Undip student group, Kronik Filmedia, was banned from screening Sanubari Jakarta (Heart of Jakarta) on campus.

Officials banned the film, which previously passed muster at the Film Censorship Board and screened in movie theaters, for discussing the taboo-topics of ethnicity, religion, race and inter-group issues (SARA).

“We have tried to persuade the rectorate to give us permission, but they refused,” Seksi Kurniawatim, a representative of Kronik Filmedia said on Thursday.

The movie comprises 10 short films inspired by true stories of same-sex romance. The screening at Undip campus was to have been followed by a discussion with the film’s directors, actors and actresses.

Undip deputy rector Warsito said that the university refused to give permission for the screening to avoid community resistance.

University officials had not seen the movie, he added.

Warsito said the students should make a presentation to the university administration if they wanted to show the film.

“If it turns out good, we will welcome them to screen it. If otherwise, we will refuse,” he said.

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, the administration at UGM canceled a discussion about the book Allah, Liberty and Love, written by Canadian author Irshad Manji, for “security reasons”.

The university’s refusal to allow the discussion has been roundly criticized, as the institution has long enjoyed a reputation as a staunch proponent of freedom of speech.

Activists said that the police had failed to protect the rights of people after a violent mob from the Indonesian Mujahideen Assembly (MMI) stormed a discussion with Irshad Manji later on Wednesday evening at the Social and Islamic Studies Institute (LKiS) in Sorowajan in Bantul, Yogyakarta.

LKiS director Farid Wajidi said the LKiS held the discussion despite threats because it did not want to acquiesce with certain community groups that could not accept different thoughts or opinions.

“Freedom of thoughts and speech are like air. Without them, the LKiS is nothing,” Farid said.

The mob injured seven people at the discussion, destroyed copies of the books at the meeting and vandalized the LKiS office.

Contacted separately, MMI chairman Irfan S. Awwas said that MMI members and members of several other Islamic organizations had indeed dispersed Manji’s discussion at LKiS.

“We coordinated with the local security authority,” Irfan said.

Irfan said that the MMI had been forced to disperse the discussion forum since Manji had insulted Islam and that the discussion did not have permission from the local police.

He denied that MMI members assaulted participants of the discussion. “Give us evidence if we did so,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bantul Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dewi Hartati declined to discuss the incident, alleging that the LKiS had not informed the police about the discussion.

“Give us time to investigate. We will inform you when we have found the real thread,” she said.

Manji, meanwhile, praised those who saved her from violence during the incident.

“I was moved by their courage. They have shown that Indonesians can unite to defend human values and dignity,” she said in a statement.