Reza Rifaldi, Sari Hardiyanto, Makassar – Hundreds of students from various student alliances in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi (Sulsel), held a demonstration to commemorate National Education Day (Hardiknas) on Friday May 2.
The action took place in front of the South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Jalan Urip Sumiharjo in Panakkukang District at around 4 pm.
Kompas.com observed that the students blockaded the road in front of the people's representative building causing the flow of traffic to become congested. They also used a small truck and set fire to old tyres to block the road.
In their demands, the students asked the government to equalise education access for students and the poor. "We see that many soldiers are now entering campuses to intervene to students and youth [affairs]", said one of the speakers.
Demanding free education
In addition to this, during the momentum of this year's Hardiknas the students also demanded that the government realise free education. "We ask the South Sulawesi DPRD speaker to meet us and receive our aspirations. You're paid and sit in luxury because of the ordinary people's money", said the speaker.
Protest actions are predicted to take place at several points in Makassar to commemorate Hardiknas 2025. The demonstrations reflect an aspiration for an educational systems and policies that need to be improved by the government.
Several other locations were also used as demonstration points including the flyover area in front of the South Sulawesi DPRD building, in front of the Makassar Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) campus on Jalan Urip Sumiharjo, in front of the Makassar State University (UNM) campus on Jalan A.P. Pettarani, in front of the Makassar Muhammadiyah University (Unismuh) campus on Jalan Sultan Alauddin and in front of the Hasanuddin University (Unhas) campus and the Education Office and the on Jalan Pandis Kemerdekaan.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Demo Hardiknas, Mahasiswa Makassar Gelar Aksi Blokade Jalan dan Tuntut Pendidikan Gratis".]
