An Overview upon the Violence Culture in IPDN

By: Pratama Yoga Nugroho*

The violence culture at IPDN just took the life of a future leader few weeks ago. It lengthened the list of dead students since IPDN was established in 1992. The violence culture in the college, which is projected to educate and prepare future civilian leaders, has taken three lives so far. The tragedies have scattered the dream and hope of not only the students’ parents, but also the region from which the students came. The violence in IPDN was so intense that there was a joke saying that IPDN didn’t produce governors, but bullies.

IPDN was established in early of 1990’s when the militaristic New Order regime was on its peak of authority. The military way used in college during the New Order regime was sawn as means of disciplining the students and training them to be tough leaders. There was neither protest nor opposition to the policy and regulation. The use of militaristic means in the college was considered appropriate as military atmosphere had been overwhelming many aspects of people’s life. The college argued that the students had to be accustomed to militarism.

As the New Order regime collapsed in 1998, militarism was no more capable of influencing civilian aspects. As the dual function of ABRI (Indonesian Armed Forces) came to an end then, people began to deliberate more deeply that all level of governments should be filled with professional civilians. Neither education in military institution nor affiliation to military entity has been sawn necessary for governance holder. This idea was expected to bring about a big change of paradigm in IPDN. IPDN was expected to eradicate its military way of education as it is no more suitable with the condition in Indonesian society.

However, expecting IPDN to eradicate militarism and violence seemed to be just a dream as it ignored much criticism. There have been two massive criticisms to IPDN so far. First was when one of its students, Eri Rachman, died in 1999 and second was when another student, Wahyu Hidayat, died in 2002. The infuriating thing was that both students died of torture from their seniors. Even though criticisms and protests have been addressed to IPDN, violence is still lasting up to now as Cliff Muntu, the last fallen life, was proved died from torture recently.

Now, investigation is in progress as well as debate over IPDN future. Many observer calls for a fundamental reformation of the college systems and many others even call for the dissolution of the college. All of those are basically implementation of desire for change in IPDN. Since no one expects the college which offers wide job opportunity to be a killing field of its students and no parent sending their children to the college think they are sending their offspring to graves, and yet no government envisioning better future want their successors to govern in tyranny, violence in IPDN must be eradicated as soon as possible, otherwise another life will once again fall

* Pratama Yoga Nugroho: a student of English Department, Faculty of Cultural Science, Diponegoro University, Semarang.