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Second student dies after harsh orientation program at Palembang high school
Six days before Wiko's death, he had been mumbling in his sleep: "Don't hit me" and "Forgive me, sir".
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The front gate of SMA Taruna Indonesia high school in Palembang, South Sumatra, on July 19. Two freshmen died after taking part in a week-long orientation program. (JP/Yulia Savitri)
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nother student of SMA Taruna Indonesia high school, Wiko Jerianda, died on Friday after a week of critical treatment at RK Charitas Hospital's intensive care unit in Palembang, South Sumatra.
The 14-year-old was the second casualty recorded from a student orientation program held by the school, which allegedly involved harsh physical exercise and abuse.
Wiko had been undergoing intensive care since July 13 after participating in the week-long program that ended with a 14-kilometer walk from the program site to the school.
A lawyer appointed to represent Wiko’s family, Firli Data, said the teenager’s condition had worsened after he underwent a bowel resection to his injured intestine that was allegedly caused by violence during the school’s orientation program.
"Wiko's family refuses to conduct an autopsy, but we reported the case to police on Friday night," Firli said.
Taruna Indonesia, a semi-militaristic private high school that combines discipline similar to military or police academies, is in the spotlight after the deaths of two freshmen participating in its orientation program. The first-graders were taken to an Islamic boarding school site in Talang Jambe for a week of exercise that allegedly involved violence.
A few days earlier, Delwyn Berli Juliandro, 14, also died after passing out during the long walk. A coach has been named a suspect for allegedly hitting Delwyn’s head with a bamboo stick.
