Bung Pattiwael, sudah lama nih ngga muncul, saya baru dapat copy dari teman
ttg keberadaan pelajar Indonesia di Norwich. Tolong dikoment nih...
-Mardhika
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For immediate release: Contact: Tom Greene
December 20, 1999 802-485-2082
Norwich University Statement on Indonesia
Today, President Richard W. Schneider released the following statement:
Three years ago, when I traveled to Indonesia, General Hartono, then
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, looked me in the eye and said he
wanted to reform his army. I took him at his word. This fall, we were all
encouraged when President Habibie allowed the referendum on independence
for East Timor to go forward. Subsequently, we were very disappointed by
the Indonesian Army's response to that vote and the resulting carnage in
East Timor. More recently, the call by their first democratically elected
president for outside pressure on the Indonesian military has convinced
me that they are not at this point interested in reform. One of the
founding principles of Norwich University is respect for civilian
authority by the military. This army has not demonstrated a commitment
to that respect. For me, this is a critical condition of real reform.
Effective today, Norwich University is severing all formal ties with the
Indonesian military. We will no longer accept payments from the
Indonesian military for students to attend Norwich. The students who are
currently at Norwich have done nothing wrong personally, are valued
members of our intellectual community, and we will honor our commitment
to help educate them. We will work with them to ensure that they will be
able to complete their educational requirements under alternative sources
of funding. No new students from the Indonesian military will be admitted
to Norwich until a Blue Ribbon Commission that I have asked to look at
all issues surrounding international admissions has done its work.
I have also set aside Cadet scholarships for two students from East Timor
and a scholarship fund for those who might wish to contribute. Since
its inception, Norwich has believed that education is the key cornerstone
for a democratic society, and these scholarships will demonstrate our
commitment to helping the world's newest nation as it sets about the
onerous task of nation building.
Finally, at Norwich we remain steadfast in our belief in the power of
education to change lives. The students from Indonesia who study with us
now will be enriched by their experience as we have been enriched by
their presence in our community. This decision is no reflection on these
young men. I look forward to the day when I can return to Indonesia and
witness firsthand their contributions to a country where human rights,
democratic values, and respect for civilian authority by armed forces
have become fully inculcated into both military and civilian life.
____________________________________________________________________
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