Makassar – The Student Executive Council (BEM) from the Makassar State University (UNM) in South Sulawesi believes the Republic of Indonesia is currently in a state of decline due to President Prabowo Subianto's numerous policies that are not pro-people.
The students held a demonstration in front of the UNM campus, blocking roads by high jacking a container truck and burning used tyres, causing traffic a jam on Jalan AP Pettarani.
During the action the students protested the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program, which they believe wastes state funds that should be allocated to the education and health sectors.
"With regard to the MBG, because it has become a controversial issue, it should be abolished", said UMN BEM Acting President Nur Intan Maharani Ilyas on Wednesday June 17.
In addition to this, the students also highlighted the military's expansion into public spaces and the recently enacted revisions to the National Police Law (UU Polri), which they consider to be the same as the revisions to the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law revisions.
"The problem of education which [has also suffered from] a waste of APBN [State Budget] funds, including for the MBG and the Red and White [Village] Cooperatives [program], which we strongly reject" she said.
In addition to speeches, the students also staged a theatrical performance featuring two students wearing photographs of the faces of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, both wrapped in bandages as if to suggest the two leaders were dying.
"Looking at the state of the nation today, it's as if we're dying, because there are so many populist programs from the government that have had no significant impact on the ordinary people. That's why we're likening the Republic of Indonesia to a dying state", he explained.
In addition to the rally at the UNM campus, several other demonstrations were also held today, including in front of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) campus on Jalan Urip Sumiharjo, in front of the Muhammadiyah University of Makassar (UMM) campus on Jalan Sultan Alauddin and under the flyover on Jalan Urip Sumiharjo.
As a result of the student demonstrations, several access roads suffered long traffic jams forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. (mir/isn)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aksi Teatrikal Warnai Demo Mahasiswa di Makassar".]
