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Unhas Denies TNI Intervention, Student Fainting at Orientation
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Unhas Denies TNI Intervention, Student Fainting at Orientation

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) confirmed the TNI's presence at its New Student Orientation (PKKMB) was pre-arranged and not an intervention.
  • The university stated that military officials are invited annually to provide material on national identity and defense awareness.
  • Unhas denied reports of verbal abuse or students fainting during the event, calling such claims misinformation.

Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) has addressed concerns regarding the presence of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) during the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) new student orientation (PKKMB). The university clarified that the participation of TNI officials, including the Commander of Kodam XIV/Hasanuddin, Major General TNI Bangun Nawoko, was part of a pre-communicated agenda.

Unhas stated that it routinely invites representatives from local government, TNI, and Polri to PKKMB events each year. Major General Nawoko was initially scheduled for August 11 to deliver a lecture on national identity and defense awareness but was rescheduled to August 12 due to a prior commitment. The faculty of FIB was chosen for the visit due to its large number of new students and the availability of a suitable venue, the GOR JK Arenatorium.

The plan for the arrival of Pangdam XIV/Hasanuddin had been communicated to the FIB leadership. So, the narrative that the FIB PKKMB committee did not know about the Pangdam's arrival is disinformation.

— Ishaq RahmanUnhas Head of Public Relations and Documentation Ishaq Rahman clarifying the communication regarding the TNI commander's visit.

The university refuted claims that the PKKMB committee was unaware of the TNI commander's visit, emphasizing that the plan had been communicated to the faculty leadership. Unhas also denied any TNI intervention in the orientation process, describing the one-hour session with the commander as orderly, safe, and smooth. The material presented was motivational and patriotic, with an open dialogue session that concluded without any harsh words or verbal abuse directed at the new students.

Furthermore, Unhas strongly denied reports of verbal violence leading to students fainting during the event. The university characterized these claims as misinformation and distortions intended to discredit both the institution and the TNI. The university stressed that the session was conducted respectfully and professionally.

There were absolutely no instances of shouting or verbal abuse towards the new students. The material and dialogue concluded at 5:10 PM WITA.

— Ishaq RahmanUnhas Head of Public Relations and Documentation Ishaq Rahman denying allegations of harsh treatment during the TNI commander's session.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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