Surabaya – Students protesting a number of government policies crowded on to Jalan Gubernur Suryo to hold a demonstration in front of the Grahadi State Building (governor's office) in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday June 17.
The students came from various campuses across Surabaya including the Airlangga University (Unair), the East Java Veteran National Development University (UPN), the Surabaya State University (Unesa) and the Surabaya Muhammadiyah University (Umsura), as well as the Surabaya Student Executive Council (BEM) Alliance and other student organisations.
They brought posters and banners carrying protest messages. Students from the various campuses in Surabaya also took turns delivering speeches through a megaphone.
"Tomorrow, some of us will perform Friday prayers, tomorrow on Sunday some of us will perform Sunday prayers, but today we will hold a prayer of resistance", said one of the speakers.
In their speeches, the students touched on the increasingly precarious state of Indonesian democracy. They also touched on the role of officials who are not carrying out their duties and instead playing a role in the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program.
"Today we see the government increasingly undermining democracy. Our military is not guarding the borders but instead managing MBG. Indonesia is seriously ill", they said.
As a result of the action, Jalan Yus Sudarso was completely blocked and traffic flow was temporarily diverted. Razor wire fences were installed along the entrance gate to the Grahadi State Building and a number of police officers were seen standing guard inside the building's courtyard.
16 demands
Earlier, Airlangga University BEM President M. Rizqi Senja Virawan stated that through the action, the students are urging the government to stop several national programs deemed to be ineffective and to burdening the state budget (APBN).
Virawan stated that their team had conducted a study and compiled at least 16 demands to be conveyed during the action. Out of the dozens of demands, two main ones were the focus of the action.
"For our demands we actually have 16. The main ones are to stop the Free Nutritious Meals program and the Red and White Village Cooperatives [program]. Then, we need to revoke the Polri [National Police] Law and the TNI [Indonesian Military] Law. Those are the most important demands", said Virawan said sought for confirmation by CNN Indonesia Tuesday June 16.
Meanwhile the Airlangga University BEM also urged an accelerated deliberation and ratification of the Asset Confiscation Bill and the Indigenous Peoples Bill. They also rejected militarism and urge the military to return to its national defence role in accordance with the principle of civilian supremacy.
The Airlangga University BEM also urged the state and authorities to stop all forms of repressive actions by the authorities against civilians and to unconditionally release all political prisoners.
Ksatria Airlangga also asked the state to guarantee the welfare of educators, education employees and health workers. They also asked the state to stop all forms of repression against the press and guarantee press freedom as a pillar of democracy.
"[We] demand an apology to the people and a total evaluation of the performance of the Prabowo-Gibran government", he said referring to President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. (frd/sur)
[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Gabungan Gelar Aksi di Depan Gedung Grahadi Surabaya".]
