Chief Justice Anwar Usman giving remarks and closing Lustrum XIV and 70th anniversary of the Law Faculty of Andalas University, Padang, Thursday (12/9/2021). Photo by Humas MK/Ilham W. M.
Thursday, December 9, 2021 | 15:49 WIB
Padang, Public Relations—Books by the academics of the Law Faculty of Andalas University (Unand) were launched on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at the university’s Convention Hall in Padang. The event also marked the 70th anniversary of the faculty.
“It is only natural that the Law Faculty of Andalas University published books on various legal issues, considering the role of higher law education is to provide education and literacy for students in particular and society in general,” said Chief Justice Anwar Usman in his remarks.
Legal Education and Literacy
Justice Anwar emphasized that education and literacy for students and the community should not stop, but must continue, because it is the key to success in building the nation and state. It will facilitate the nation in creating a just society in prosperity and prosperity in justice.
“Our efforts along with students, legal activists, academics and practitioners, are actually joint efforts to build a better civilization. History has recorded and taught us a valuable lesson that treating humankind fairly through the law is an absolute must. The history of law can be said to be as old as the history of human civilization,” he stressed.
He added that in the Mesopotamia era, the oldest world civilization, there were historical relics in the form of black stone blocks on which a collection of laws was engraved. These stones are called the Code of Hammurabi, a legacy of King Hammurabi of the ancient Babylon who ruled in 1728–1686 BC. The stone fragments were discovered by French archaeologist M. De Morgan and are stored in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
King Hammurabi, Justice Anwar added, are often associated by researchers and archaeologists with Abraham, or Prophet Ibrahim in Islam. The various texts in the Bible are strikingly similar to the various texts of Mesopotamian literature. Some researchers even concluded that the biblical texts and Mesopotamian literary works were interdependent, as they share many similarities.
“Regardless the historical debate over the issue, the most important thing for legal scholars to see in historical findings is that law and justice must absolutely be implemented. Historical records show that one of the reasons for the collapse of the Mesopotamian civilization and empire, with its large and magnificent buildings, was slavery and injustice,” he stressed.
Preserving Civilization
Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra also attended the event. In his keynote speech, he stressed the importance of writing for students and academics. “Famed philosopher Albert Camus asserted that ‘The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.’ If we write in any form and it is read by others, however the response, we contribute to preserving or building civilization,” he stressed.
Academics who do not have the urge to write and to express their thoughts do not want to build civilization and are not keeping civilization from destroying itself. “I observed that what the academics of the Law Faculty of Andalas University, who launched 43 books today, are part of a big setting to build and maintain civilization,” he said.
However, Justice Saldi is concerned with literature in Indonesia, which lags behind other countries. Law schools must become more productive in the years to come.
“A good writer is not only able to channel their own spirit, but is someone who is able to inspire those around them,” he remarked.
Next, Unand Rector Yuliandri expressed his appreciation for the book launch, which he said was extraordinary. “On behalf of the leadership of Unand, [I] would like to thank and congratulate all academics of the Law Faculty of Unand, especially those who had contributed a lot to produce various works. This is part of five-year events of the Law Faculty of Andalas University,” he said. He added that the faculty now faced the challenged of digital products in order to reach the public.
Next, Unand Law Faculty Dean Busyra Azheri thanked the rector for his direct and indirect support for the book launch and review.
“[Thanks for] the support by lecturers of the Law Faculty of Andalas University, who have always given their time to participate actively in any event, without expecting return. This is extraordinary,” he said.
The book launch was followed by a book review with three panelists: Prof. Topo Santoso, dr. H. M. Nasser, and Dr. Agusmidah. It was part of Lustrum XIV and the 70th anniversary of the Law Faculty of Andalas University.
Writer : Nano Tresna Arfana
Editor : Nur R.
Translator : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)
Translation uploaded on 12/21/2021 10:27 WIB
Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.
Thursday, December 09, 2021 | 15:49 WIB 209