Taufiq Syarifudin, Jakarta – Protesters from the University of Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM UI) held a demonstration on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan on Central Jakarta on Monday October 20. They brought eight demands called the "Asta Cita Rakyat" (the People's Asta Cita).
Based on detik.com monitoring at the location, the demonstrators from BEM UI arrived at around 4.11 pm and could be seen carrying a number of posters with demands related to the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
BEM UI Studies Department head Dialo Rainbiru said they were holding a demonstration to convey their criticisms of the government. He said they brought eight demands to the rally.
"Indeed, today's action is taking up the title one year is enough, one year of suffering is enough, one year of oppression is enough and we are taking up the People's Asta Cita or the people's eight demands", said Rainbiru in Central Jakarta.
The first demand is an end to criminalisation and the release all the people who were detained because of the demonstrations late August that turned violent. They also called for system improvements in state institutions.
"Second, revoke the TNI's [Indonesian Military] territorial command and implement reforms of Polri [the National Police]. Third, create a progressive, pro-people economic system. Fourth, create true democracy in accordance with the principle of popular sovereignty", he explained.
Fifth, they called for genuine agrarian reform and the introduction of sustainable eco-socialism. Sixth, the protesters asked the government to provide free and quality education.
"Seventh, create healthcare that prioritises people's welfare. Eight, revoke anti-people policies and enforce just laws", he said.
The BEM UI also asked the government to evaluate National Strategic Projects (PSN) and the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. They said the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) must be filled with people who are experts in the field of nutrition and food.
"Because many of our younger siblings and our children have been poisoned due to poor management of the national nutrition agency. The chairperson of the BGN himself is not an expert. In the structure we also don't see any nutritionists and so on, we don't lack nutritionists, give these positions to the right people", he asserted.
They also demanded that Rakabuming Raka fulfil his campaign promise of 19 million jobs. According to Rainbiru, this promise has not been realised. "Until now, there have only been internships, not job opportunities themselves", he said.
Before the BEM UI protesters arrived at the location, a number of other students had also held a demonstration in which they set fire to banners and rubbish in front of police barriers.
The police then extinguished the fires while the crowd continued giving speeches. (haf/haf)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Demo Peringati 1 Tahun Prabowo-Gibran di Jakpus, Bawa 8 Tuntutan".]
