In their statement read by state Gajahmada University rector Dwikorita Karnawati said the President as head of state and with the authority vested in him must remain consistent in the fight against corruption.
"We believe people will stand behind the President and be loyal to support him (if he remains so)," she said.
The event held following the naming of Corruption Eradication Commission deputy Bambang Widjojanto as suspect by the police was attended by representatives from the Gadjahmada Universitys Corruption Study Center (Pukat UGM), Peoples Movement for Indonesia Transparency (Gemati) and a number of state and private universities in the city.
Dwikorita said President Joko Widodo must not hesitate to take a decision with regard to enforcing the law and promoting justice.
She said there has been a tendency of politicization in law enforcement resulting in the reduction of the credibility of state institutions such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the police.
"The fact has caused public distrust towards the government and law enforcers," she said.
In view of that it was hoped the President would be able to assure the rule of law is upheld and its principles are adhered to realize justice.
"Restore state institutions functions based ethics and the constitution," she said.
The President, she said, must listen to the voices of community figures, academicians, non-governmental organizations, religious leaders and those who care about national concerns.
"There have been indications that peoples aspirations are being ignored with regard to the settlement of national problems," she said.
Deputy rector of the Indonesia Islamic University (UII), Abdul Jamil, said he hoped in making a policy President Jokowi (Joko Widodo) must stand firm and not allow himself to be influenced by the political stance of the political parties that support him.
"The President belongs to the people and so must support the interest of the people," he said.
He also expressed hope that Bambang Widjojanto would not resign following his naming as suspect by the police recently.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently named national police candidate Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as suspect in a corruption case, making the President to decide his inauguration pending the settlement of his case.
Abdul Jamil said "if he (Bambang Widjojanto) resigns it means he loses," he said.
The lecturer of the Law Department of Atmajaya University, Elisabet Sundari, in the meantime urged for prioritizing the settlement of corruption cases rather than other legal cases.
"Corruption is an extraordinary crime and so its settlement must be prioritized," she said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
