Marshanda, Palembang – The Cipayung Plus Student Alliance held a protest action in front of the South Sumatra Regional Police headquarters at which they urged the regional police chief to conduct a thorough investigation into the assault on Cipayung Plus students that took place on Tuesday October 13.
The protesters, who comprised members of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII), the Islamic Student Association (HMI) and the local branch of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI), also demanded that law enforcement take firm action against parties involved in forest and land fires (karhutla) in South Sumatra.
In a speech, one of the representative from the PMII called on the national police chief (Kapolri) to fully investigate corporations proven to be involved in the burning of forests and land.
"We asks for a thorough investigation into the corporations and companies responsible for burning forests because as many in the community are suffering ISPA [acute respiratory infections]", they said in front of the South Sumatra Regional Police headquarters (Mapolda Sumsel).
In addition to urging action against corporations linked to the forest and land fires, the protesters urged the South Sumatra Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) to immediately investigate and apprehend those suspected of assaulting a Cipayung Plus student.
"We call on the Kapolda to promptly and thoroughly investigate the individuals from certain mass organisations who assaulted our comrade from Cipayung Plus", they said.
The protesters also highlighted the issue of freedom of expression for students and the general public in voicing their concerns, particularly regarding the forest and land fires occurring in South Sumatra.
"Where is the right to freedom of expression for the people?", they asked.
- South Sumatra students protest forest fires, journalists intimidated by thugs. Suara Metropolitan – October 13, 2026
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Cipayung Plus Desak Polisi Usut Kasus Pengeroyokan Mahasiswa".]
