Medan – A demonstration by hundreds of students from the University of North Sumatra (Sumut) in front of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) took up a number of demands directed at the government ranging from reevaluating the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, budget transparency, to job creation.
The protesters came carrying banners containing demands and criticisms of government policies. When they arrived at the location, they were greeted by police officers standing guard in front of the DPRD building.
The police also unfurled a banner reading "Welcome Aspiration Fighters". In the middle of the action however, the banner was removed by the students.
Students attempted to meet with DPRD representatives to convey their aspirations directly. So far however, they had not been able to meet the people's representatives who are in the building.
In speeches, the protesters questioned the reasons why the police were the ones dealing directly with the demonstrators. They emphasised their desire to hold a dialogue with DPRD members, not with security forces.
"We want to convey our aspirations to the DPRD representatives in the building. We have come to meet the people's representatives", shouted one of the speakers in front of the crowd on Monday June 15.
The atmosphere heated up when a number of students tried to approach the entrance to the DPRD building. Police officers who were on standby then set up barricades to secure the area.
"Long live students! Long live the Indonesian people! We wanted to meet with the people's representatives but we were confronted by the police. We just wanted to convey the unrest that exists under the Prabowo-Gibran administration", shouted the crowd, referring to President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Apart from voicing criticisms of government policies, students also conveyed nine main demands which they felt need to be followed up immediately.
1. Demanding that the government keep fuel prices stable and ensure that the distribution of subsidised fuel is on target.
2. Urging efficiency and transparency in the allocation of the state and regional budgets by prioritising programs that are considered urgent for the community.
3. Rejecting all forms of National Police (Polri) dwi-fungsi (dual function) and demanding increased transparency and accountability within the police.
4. Urging the government to stop the MBG program and replace it with a nutritional fulfillment program that is considered more effective, efficient and on target.
5. Demanding that the government restore the education sector as a top priority for national development.
6. Urging the government and House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately pass the Draft Law on Indigenous Peoples.
7. Demanding government accountability for disaster management in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra and demand firm action against illegal mining practices.
8. Urging regional governments to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of public services in the electricity and clean water sectors.
9. Calling in the realisation of the Prabowo-Gibran administration's promise to create 19 million jobs. (fnr/dal)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ratusan Mahasiswa USU Aksi di DPRD Sumut, Tagih 19 Juta Lapangan Kerja".]
