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UGM not involved in 1965 anti communist purge, says Rector
Seeking the truth: The Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta says it will not seek clarification about the alleged involvement of one of its notable professor in the 1965 communist purge, revealed during a hearing at the International Peopleâs Tribunal (IPT) for crimes against humanity in 1965
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Seeking the truth: The Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta says it will not seek clarification about the alleged involvement of one of its notable professor in the 1965 communist purge, revealed during a hearing at the International Peopleâs Tribunal (IPT) for crimes against humanity in 1965. (Courtesy of 1965tribunal.org) (UGM) Yogyakarta says it will not seek clarification about the alleged involvement of one of its notable professor in the 1965 communist purge, revealed during a hearing at the International Peopleâs Tribunal (IPT) for crimes against humanity in 1965. (Courtesy of 1965tribunal.org)
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br>Seeking the truth: The Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta says it will not seek clarification about the alleged involvement of one of its notable professor in the 1965 communist purge, revealed during a hearing at the International People's Tribunal (IPT) for crimes against humanity in 1965. (Courtesy of 1965tribunal.org)
The rector of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta, Dwikorita Karnawati, has said that at an institutional level, the university was not involved in the atrocities against members and sympathizers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965.
However, the rector admitted that there was the possibility of UGM academic society members' being individually involved in the 1965 communist purge.
'We are firmly drawing a line between institutional and individual activities. It is impossible for us to monitor and be able to reach the activities of all UGM individuals,' Dwikorita told thejakartapost.com on Tuesday.
The rector's statement was in response to the testimony of Titin, a 1965 communist purge victim during a hearing session at the International People's Tribunal (IPT) for crimes against humanity in 1965.
In her testimony, Titin claimed that one of the people who tortured her during the 1965 purge was Lukman Sutrisno. She referred to late Loekman Soetrisno, a notable UGM professor.
Dwikorita said that the university would not seek clarification about Prof Loekman's alleged involvement in the 1965 atrocities.
'It's not in our [UGM's] capacity to carry out such an inquiry. Currently, we are focused on scientific development and we don't want to become entrapped in problems related with our dark past history,' she said.
Nevertheless, Dwikorita said, UGM would continue to promote and protect human rights and reject any form of human rights violations.
'We are committed to continuously upholding human rights. And in this context, we also must uphold the presumption of innocence principle as this is also a part of human rights,' she said.
Commenting on an honorary certificate dated Dec.15, 1965, received by UGM from the Army's Special Forces (RPKAD, now Kopassus), Dwikorita said the certificate was a form of appreciation of the university's great contribution to the country. It had been rumored that the RPKAD gave the certificate to pay respect for the university's support of the 1965 anti-communist purge in Central Java.
UGM spokesperson Ifada Indriyani said the university's leaders had no plan to seek confirmation about Loekman's alleged involvement in the 1965 case.
'Campus leaders do not have any plan to discuss or talk about the matter,' she said.
Ifada said the university considered that working hard to develop science that was useful to society was much more important.
'We don't have any comment, admission or denial about the issue. We are now focused on giving a contribution to the nation. This is what we are prioritizing,' she said. (ebf)
