Journalists are Prohibited from Entering Campus to Cover Press Conferences

Two journalists in Surabaya were prohibited from entering the Airlangga University Surabaya campus to attend the press conference of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Prof Budi Santoso, on Monday, July 8 2024.

That day, Prof Budi Santoso accompanied by the Advocacy Team for Academic Freedom delivered a letter objecting to his dismissal to the Rectorate Building on Campus C UNAIR on Jalan Dr. Ir. H. Soekarno.

Prof Budi arrived at Campus C at around 15.20 WIB. He then headed to Campus A UNAIR at around 15.40 WIB to hold a press conference.
He invited journalists in Surabaya to take part in the press conference.

Arriving at Campus A, the two campus gates were tightly closed. Prof Budi and his team of advocates were invited to enter the gate, but journalists who had arrived in front of the campus were prohibited from entering.

A security guard closed the gate tightly with a padlock. He said the media was prohibited from entering through the gate on orders from the leadership.

Tempo contributor Dimas arrived at campus A at around 4 pm. Arriving at the gate of Campus A, Dimas tried to explain to security that he wanted to cover Professor Budi Santoso's press conference. However, journalists are still prohibited from entering campus.

Prof Budi then met some journalists in front of the fence at Campus A. The press conference was finally held on the sidewalk next to the road in front of the campus.