ID :
14946
Tue, 08/05/2008 - 17:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14946
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GOVT URGED TO SETTLE "SETIA" CAMPUS CASE IMMEDIATELY
Jakarta, Aug 5 (ANTARA) - Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) deputy chairman Denny Tewu here on Tuesday urged the government to immediately solve the problem being faced by around 2,000 students of Arastamar Evangelical Theological College (Setia College) in East Jakarta.
The students were evicted from their campus recently and now they had no place where they could study in the runup to a national examination in which they were scheduled to take part, he said.
"The government should not be slow in taking action to overcome the problem of the Setia students because they have threatened to seek political asylum in other countries. If they really seek asylum, it will tarnish the government's image," Tewu said.
He made the call on government following Setia campus spokesman Hendrik Tambunan's statement last Monday that some 1,000 students and faculty members were ready to seek political asylum in either Europe or the United States if they were not allowed to live and study in their own country.
"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 not allowed to continue our schooling in East Jakarta, it means the State no longer protects the Indonesian nation as a whole," Hendrik Tambunan said.
He made the statement 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 unable 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 asked.
Tambunan and about 1,000 Setia students, teachers and administrative staff are currently accommodated in a workers' or trans migrants' 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 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.
Commenting on Tambunan's statement, Denny Tewu said he was very concerned about Setia students' situation and conditions.
"However, we call on all parties not to be provoked into any action that could worsen the situation because PDS will struggle with love for peace," Tewu said.
He also called on the students of the so-called minority group to dedicate themselves even more to the state and nation.
The students were evicted from their campus recently and now they had no place where they could study in the runup to a national examination in which they were scheduled to take part, he said.
"The government should not be slow in taking action to overcome the problem of the Setia students because they have threatened to seek political asylum in other countries. If they really seek asylum, it will tarnish the government's image," Tewu said.
He made the call on government following Setia campus spokesman Hendrik Tambunan's statement last Monday that some 1,000 students and faculty members were ready to seek political asylum in either Europe or the United States if they were not allowed to live and study in their own country.
"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 not allowed to continue our schooling in East Jakarta, it means the State no longer protects the Indonesian nation as a whole," Hendrik Tambunan said.
He made the statement 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 unable 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 asked.
Tambunan and about 1,000 Setia students, teachers and administrative staff are currently accommodated in a workers' or trans migrants' 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 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.
Commenting on Tambunan's statement, Denny Tewu said he was very concerned about Setia students' situation and conditions.
"However, we call on all parties not to be provoked into any action that could worsen the situation because PDS will struggle with love for peace," Tewu said.
He also called on the students of the so-called minority group to dedicate themselves even more to the state and nation.
