DEMONSTRATION GREETS VP IN BANDUNG

Bandung, March 2 (ANTARA) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla's presence here to attend the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on Monday prompted The People's Defenders' Front (FPR) to stage a demonstration criticizing the government.
The demonstrators coordinator, Cepi, said the ITB's golden anniversary also marked the 50th year of an unscientific and undemocratic education system in the country.
The demonstrators said the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla government was an anti-people government whose policies had caused misery to the people.
They also rejected the Law on Legal Entity Status of Education (UU BHB) saying the law had only added to the people's misery.
Kalla and his entourage arrived here on Monday morning to attend the ITB golden anniversary during which he was presented with a Ganesa Prajamanggala Bakti Kencana Award.
The award was presented to the vice president by ITB Rector Prof Djoko Santoso in the company of the campus Legislative Board Haryanto Danutirto and Senate chairman Yanuarsyah Haroen.
The presentation of Ganesa Prajamanggala Bakti Kencana Award to Jusuf Kalla was based on ITB rector's decree No.062/SK/K01/KP/2009.
"So far he has rendered his outstanding dedication and contribution to the progress of ITB," Djoko Santoso said, adding that on the occasion ITB also presented Ganesa Prajamanggala Bakti Adiutama Award to 16 ministers and former ministers.
The ministers who received the award were among others Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Transportation Minister Jusman Sjafii Djamal, Coorinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman, and Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.
While the former minsters were among others Wiranto Arismunandar, Kuntoro Mankusubroto, Haryanto Danutirto, Giri Suseno, RB Soetjipto, Laksamana Sukardi, Sarwono Kusumaatmaja, and L Hilal Hamdi.
ITB's golden anniversary was also marked with the signing of a new stamp by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.