Four lecturers and students at the state-run Nusa Cendana University (Undana) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, have been identified as being connected with the disbanded Islamist organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

"It is not ethical to mention their names. The point is I have summoned and questioned them," Undana rector Frederik Benu told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Frederik said that, during the questioning, all four claimed they had only received invitations for a pengajian (Islamic learning forum) from the HTI back in 2012 without knowing what the organization was and whether the organization intended to change the state ideology of Pancasila.

"It happened several years ago. But I asked them to make written statements that they were not part of the management or supporters of the HTI. I will hand over the statements to the Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister [Muhammad Nasir]," he said.

Previously, Frederik said he would expel lecturers and students who were involved in the HTI.

"If you cannot accept diversity, leave this university, leave this nation," he said, adding that he had received notification from the ministry over the presence of HTI supporters at the university.

There are some 28,000 students in the university, Frederik said.

The government has launched an intensive crackdown on state officials known to be HTI supporters since the Law and Human Rights Ministry announced it had disbanded the organization in July.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Djemi Amnifu

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