Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Jogjakarta relieved two lecturers from their structural posts for allegedly being part of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a recently-banned organization that is perceived as threatening national integrity and the state ideology of Pancasila.
"The two lecturers will be relieved from their administrative duties effective immediately," said Iva Ariani, UGM's spokesperson, "But we cannot reveal their names as yet because they are still being processed,"
The lecturers were discharged from their positions as laboratory head and dean, both at the Faculty of Engineering, but will continue being lecturers.
This decision was made after the university management had a meeting with the two lecturers to discuss their views on Pancasila. The results of the meeting were submitted to the university council for a recommendation. "The university council's recommendation helps the management make a decision," said Iva.
Last year, a document was circulated that named eight UGM lecturers as suspected HTI members. One of them is Muhammad Kholid Ridwan, a lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering and an administrator of HTI in Bantul, Yogyakarta. (nor/evi)