Jakarta – Hundreds of students from a number of universities in the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek) held a demonstration in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building today to call in the fulfilment of the 17+8 People's Demands issued during the previous wave of demonstrations on August 25-31.
Based on monitoring at the location, the action was held at around 3 pm. Students came wearing their campus alma mater jackets with a number of banners and billboards. Participants in the action were dominated by students from the University of Indonesia (UI), the Jakarta Syarief Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) and the National Student Front (FMN).
"Indeed, the theme that we are bringing is to call in a pledge. So we come to call in the pledge, which is the 17+8 demands, which in fact have been received by the government and members of the House", said UI student representative Diallo Hujanbiru.
According to Hujanbiru, their demands are the same as those represented in demands formulated by a number of other elements of society ranging from influencers, civil society coalitions and labour groups. However, he regretted that most of the demands had not been fulfilled by the DPR or the government.
"There are still many [that have not been fulfilled], we feel a big zero in terms of completion", said Hujanbiru.
Hujanbiru also highlighted statements by a number of House members who are considered to still be stupid. Including on the demand that the government withdraw the Indonesian Military (TNI) from civilian affairs and that it return to the barracks.
"That is all that we will demand today, and we will also continue to do the rounds. This is the first claim on the pledge, and there will be further claims on the pledges", he said. (gil/gil)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Jabodetabek Demo di DPR Tagih Tuntutan 17+8".]
