Yudhoyono hints at IPDN closure

Bogor, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hinted on Sunday that the end could be near for the violence-plagued Institute of Public Administration (IPDN).

Responding to mounting calls from the public for the disbandment of IPDN, Yudhoyono said that a drastic decision could only be made after all of the institute's 4,653 students had graduated.<>

"We don't have to respond emotionally (by disbanding IPDN immediately). What about the current students? We should wait at least until all of them have graduated from the institute," Yudhoyono told reporters at a press briefing after an excursion to a fruit farm in Bogor, 60 kilometers south of Jakarta.

As reported by The Jakarta Post, Yudhoyono earlier said he would not rule out shutting down IPDN and setting up new institutions if required.

A number of lawmakers at the House of Representatives have thrown their support behind the plan to shut down IPDN, saying that the institute violates the law on national education and its presence was no longer needed in the era of regional autonomy.

Yudhoyono said that following the graduation of current students, a new design for the college could replace the present curriculum which is rife with violence.

He said he is also considering the possibility of reviving public administration colleges in each province to suit the needs of local governments.

"However, these colleges would have to adhere to a national standard," he said.

IPDN was established by former home minister Rudini in 1988 by merging 20 public administration academies together which were scattered throughout the country.

In order to put an end to the violence at IPDN, Yudhoyono late last week formed a team tasked with embarking on a major `overhaul' at IPDN.

The new team, chaired by former rector of the Institute for Public Administration (IIP) Ryaas Rasyid, has been given two months to write a recommendation about the institute for the government.

Establishing the team was part of a six-point plan drawn up by the President in response to the death of IPDN sophomore student Cliff Muntu, who was allegedly beaten to death by seniors at the institute.

Yudhoyono also ordered that all junior-senior activities at the institute be stopped and those who were involved in Cliff's fatal beating be brought to justice.

In a related development, police in Sumedang, West Java, questioned IPDN students Joko Tricahyono, Gunawan Nurhasan and Chairul Ihsan over the weekend. The students were allegedly involved in Cliff's beating.

However, police had difficulties collecting information from the students, members of IPDN's marching band club, as they were tight lipped over what had caused Cliff's death.

"We want there to be no deception so we can conclusively resolve this case," one of the case investigators was quoted by Antara as saying.

Police have arrested seven out of 11 students alleged to have been involved in the fatal beating. (dar)