ID :
14897
Tue, 08/05/2008 - 11:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14897
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SETIA CAMPUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THREATEN TO SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM ABROAD
Jakarta, July 28 (ANTARA) - Some 1,000 students and faculty members of Arastamar Evangelical Theological College or Setia in east Jakata are ready to seek political asylum in other countries if they are no longer allowed to live and pursue their studies in their own country, a spokesman said.
"This is our official statement on behalf of everybody at the Setia campus. If no solution is found in our efforts to participate in the life of the community, including enjoying education in our own country because we are now allowed to continue our schooling in East Jakarta, it means the State no longer protects the Indonesian nation as a whole," said Setia campus spokesman Hendrik Tambunan here Monday.
He said the statement was issued after it appeared the problem between the Setia campus and residents of Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti in Makassar sub district, East Jakarta, was being left unsolved by the authorities.
"We have a campus, a school and living quarters of our own but we are not allowed to go there for unclear reasons and the government as well as security agencies are unnable to find a solution, leaving us with the question where do we have to go? This being the case, is political asylum in a more civilized country not the best way out for us?" he said.
Tambunan and about 1,000 Setia students, teachers and administtrative staff are currently accommodated in a workers' or transmigrants' transit camp at Kali Malang in East Jakarta after being forced to abandon their campus a few days ago following a standoff with Kampung Pulo residents who claimed the theological school did not have the required official permit to operate there.
"We are being treated as if we were second-class citizens who don't have the right to exist , to enjoy education and a future in their own country. Just look at our conditions, we have been living in misery for about a week, without a place to live since we have been forbidden to remain in our own campus," Tambunan said.
Therfore, he said, the government and security agencies were expected to take firm and indisciminate action to solve the problem being faced by the Setia campus community. .
"If the situation continues to be left unsolved and there is no firm attitude on the part of the government and security agencies, we will take it as a sign that our life as part of the community is in danger. We have already begun to conduct the lobbies and made the contacts needed to seek political asylum," Tambnan said.
A number of foreign missions in Indonesia had already opened the possibility of accepting Setia campus community members as asylum seekers, according to Tambunan.
Of the approximately 2,000 members of the Setia campus community , 1,000 were now ready to be the first batch of asylum seekers, he said without mentioning in which countries they would seek refuge.
"This is our official statement on behalf of everybody at the Setia campus. If no solution is found in our efforts to participate in the life of the community, including enjoying education in our own country because we are now allowed to continue our schooling in East Jakarta, it means the State no longer protects the Indonesian nation as a whole," said Setia campus spokesman Hendrik Tambunan here Monday.
He said the statement was issued after it appeared the problem between the Setia campus and residents of Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti in Makassar sub district, East Jakarta, was being left unsolved by the authorities.
"We have a campus, a school and living quarters of our own but we are not allowed to go there for unclear reasons and the government as well as security agencies are unnable to find a solution, leaving us with the question where do we have to go? This being the case, is political asylum in a more civilized country not the best way out for us?" he said.
Tambunan and about 1,000 Setia students, teachers and administtrative staff are currently accommodated in a workers' or transmigrants' transit camp at Kali Malang in East Jakarta after being forced to abandon their campus a few days ago following a standoff with Kampung Pulo residents who claimed the theological school did not have the required official permit to operate there.
"We are being treated as if we were second-class citizens who don't have the right to exist , to enjoy education and a future in their own country. Just look at our conditions, we have been living in misery for about a week, without a place to live since we have been forbidden to remain in our own campus," Tambunan said.
Therfore, he said, the government and security agencies were expected to take firm and indisciminate action to solve the problem being faced by the Setia campus community. .
"If the situation continues to be left unsolved and there is no firm attitude on the part of the government and security agencies, we will take it as a sign that our life as part of the community is in danger. We have already begun to conduct the lobbies and made the contacts needed to seek political asylum," Tambnan said.
A number of foreign missions in Indonesia had already opened the possibility of accepting Setia campus community members as asylum seekers, according to Tambunan.
Of the approximately 2,000 members of the Setia campus community , 1,000 were now ready to be the first batch of asylum seekers, he said without mentioning in which countries they would seek refuge.
