Universityof Indonesia rector Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri apologized to the public for anyinconveniences caused by the university’s honorary doctorate degree awarded toKing Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The university’s gesture sparked widespreadprotests across Indonesia.
“Weapologize if this was regarded as improper and offensive to many parties,”Gumilar said on Friday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.
Gumilaradmitted that he was aware that the timing of the award was not appropriate.
“I am fullyaware that the timing for the award was not right. We did it not long after thebeheading of Ruyati,” said Gumilar, referring to Indonesian maid Ruyati bintiSatubi, who was convicted two months ago of murdering her employer — a crimeshe allegedly committed in response to being subjected to repeated acts oftorture.
Several NGOssaid the Saudi king did not deserve such an award because the country “neverappreciated the principles of human rights, especially for migrant workers.”
Internationalhuman rights organizations have for years criticized Saudi Arabia for itstreatment of migrant workers. A 2011 Human Rights Watch report notes thatdomestic workers from Indonesia “frequently endure forced confinement, fooddeprivation and severe psychological, physical and sexual abuse”.
There arean estimated 1.5 million Indonesian maids currently in the kingdom, with 23 ondeath row.
Gumilar,however, did not say what actions his management would take next amid mountingpressure from many organizations affiliated with the university, includingprofessors, student associations and alumni who have demanded that the rectortender his resignation.
“Weunderstand the [protest as a] mere difference of opinion. And, in the realm ofdemocracy, as in the campus world, such difference is an asset and is simplynormal,” he said.
He saidthat the university management had studied the selection process for more thanthree years before deciding to award the degree to the King Abdullah.
“It [theaward] has taken long process. But we had not yet presented it due to theking’s health concerns,” he said.
Accordingto Gumilar, the date as well as the venue for the award presentation wasdecided upon by the king himself.
The awardceremony, which took place last week, drew public fury, partially because itwas conducted at the King’s Al-Safa Palace, which was not consistent with thetraditional practice of honorary degrees being presented by the awardinguniversity within their own country.
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