Ruslan Sangadji, Palu – Three Tadulako University students in Palu, Central Sulawesi, have been banned from attending graduation day, allegedly because they took part in a series of rallies over a corruption case in which the rector was a suspect.

Muhammad Afandi, a socio-politics students, and Ruslan, who is studying law, were ordered to leave campus completely, while Muhammad Anwar, an agriculture student and former head of the university's executive student board, was barred only from the ceremony.

"I heard earlier that I would not be allowed to enter the graduation venue so that I decided not to show up," Anwar said on Sunday.

Afandi and Ruslan reported the case to the Central Sulawesi chapter of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Palu Police.

Afandi said he believed that the ban was ordered by the university's rector, Sahabuddin Mustapa. "It was impossible for the committee from prevent us (from joining the ceremony) without an order from the rector," Afandi said.

Afandi further said that the ban was connected with the three students' active involvement in rallies against graft involving funds amounting to Rp 7.5 billion (US$833,300) for university autonomy preparation projects.

Sahabuddin was named a suspect but was later cleared by the Palu District Court.

Abi Kusno and Munawwarah, the parents of Afandi, expressed regret over the ban. "I'm very disappointed by the ban. We were humiliated because my son, who was already wearing graduation attire, was evicted from the auditorium. If the committee did not want to award him, why didn't they inform us?" Munawwarah said.

Sahabuddin confirmed Sunday that he had issued an official note to the committee not to allow the three students to take part in the graduation ceremony.

He said that the note was issued in response to the three's statement at a number of rallies that they would not take part in graduation day and did not want that their certificates to be signed by Sahabuddin as the rector.

"So I did not prevent them... I just met their demands. The three are still under guidance for their misbehavior," Sahabuddin said.