Govt to Hold Campus Tour to Disclose Draft Bills' Contents

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government planned to visit universities to explain several controversial laws which recently triggered students’ demonstration.

“Ministry of Law and Human Rights will reiterate the contents of the law in detail,” said Research, Technology, and Higher Education Minister Mohamad Nasir after a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the Presidential Complex, Jakarta, Thursday, September 26.

Minister Nasir demanded students return to their campuses and not stage a rally. “I will let them deliver criticism but in a proper way.”

As academicians, Nasir continued, the best way for university students in voicing their aspirations is through a dialogue forum. “Because they are academic people, they are good intellectuals, so they can hold [dialogues] on their campuses.”

Minister Nasir also condemned rectors who call out students to take the streets and let lecturers allowing them to do so. The ministry would issue a warning letter (SP) to those university principals who are proven to commit the action.

“A rector who mobilizes [a protest] will get a severe sanction, it can be SP1 or SP2,” said Nasir, adding that if their move caused losses for the country, they could be legally prosecuted.

During the last week, a wave of student protests occurred in various cities. They rejected several controversial draft bills including on criminal code (RUU KUHP), lands, mineral and coal (RUU Minerba), and correctional system (RUU Pemasyarakatan). The students also urged annulment of the newly-amended KPK Law.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI