Surabaya – A wave of student demonstrations criticising erroneous central government programs erupted again in Surabaya (East Java) and Makassar (South Sulawesi) on Wednesday June 24.
The students expressed a number of demands both in front of local government offices and Regional People's Representative Councils (DPRD). The demonstrations at these locations also became heated or chaotic with altercations breaking out between protesters and security forces.
In Surabaya, a demonstration in front of the East Java Governor's office by hundreds of students from the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement East Java Branch Coordinating Board (PKC PMII) became heated.
The protesters burned tyres, blockaded Jalan Pahlawan and were involved in pushing and shoving police after dialogue with representatives of the East Java provincial government ended in a stalemate.
PKC PMII General Secretary Abdur Razak said that around 500 students were involved in the action. Before the demonstration, the protesters visited the Heroes' Cemetery as a symbol of their disappointment with the government.
"We already feel we can't speak to the government that's alive today, so we're complaining about it all to the heroes who have gone before us", Razak said during a break in the action.
The action, which had been ongoing since noon, heated up at around 3.30 pm local time. The protesters gave the East Java provincial government a five-minute ultimatum to send a representative deemed authorised to make decisions.
Based on observations, the provincial government sent out East Java National Unity and Politics Agency (Bakesbangpol) Secretary Isa Ansori. However, because Ansori was unable to answer the students' demands, the protesters demanded that the provincial secretary meet with them in person.
Ansori responded by saying that the provincial government leader was unable to attend the action.
Around 4 pm the situation became increasingly tense. The protesters tried to push their way toward the gate to the governor's office leading to pushing and shoving with security forces. The students then blocked Jalan Pahlawan resulting in traffic being halted.
"There was indeed someone who met with us, but they didn't have the authority to address our demands. So we chose to blockade the road to try to bring them out, but the result was zip", said Razak.
During the action the students raised several demands ranging from an evaluation of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, rejecting of the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) and the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) programs, an end to the establishment of new military battalions on productive agricultural land and that action be taken against illegal mining in East Java.
"We also raised regional issues regarding environmental damage caused by the mining industry in East Java. We demanded a large-scale operation to remove unlicensed mining", he said.
The crowd finally dispersed after blockading Jalan Pahlawan for around an hour. "Our friends are very disappointed and there's a possibility we'll return. We haven't confirmed the time yet, later we'll consolidate further", asserted Razak.
Demonstration in Makassar
On another island, students from the Makassar city branch of the PMII protested at the at the South Sulawesi DPRD offices. The demonstration became heated after protesters were involved in a clash with police.
During the action, the protesters conveyed several demands to the central government, including urging a complete evaluation of the Red and White Cabinet and rejecting the implementation of the MBG program which they deemed requires a comprehensive evaluation by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
"We demand that the president conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of the Red and White Cabinet. Ministers and state officials who do not demonstrate competence, integrity, or the ability to carry out the people's mandate must be replaced with professional figures with the capacity, track record, and commitment to public service", said the protest coordinator on Wednesday afternoon.
The situation during the demonstration escalated when some protesters attempted to burn used tyres. Police officers on duty responded by extinguishing the flames, leading to pushing and shoving.
"While the PMII Makassar city protesters were giving speeches it was the turn of the police to arrive to extinguishing the fires, a symbol of the struggle ignited by the masses, the police carried out acts of repression so pushing and shoving took place", said Yudhoyono, one of the Makassar city branch PMII administrators when sought for confirmation.
Yudhoyono said that three PMII Makassar city cadres were detained by police and taken to the Makassar Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes) station for questioning.
Separately, Makassar Municipal Police operational division head Assistant Superintendent Hari Harry F Aritonang said that officers only extinguished the used tyres burnt by protesters during the action at the DPRD. "Earlier, we only secured the tyres that were about to be burned", Aritonang told CNN Indonesia.
Aritonang admitted he was not yet certain if any students were detained during the incident. "Wait a moment, I'll check first, as far as I know, no one (was detained)", he said. (frd/mir/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Demo Mahasiswa di Surabaya dan Makassar, Ini Tuntutan Massa.]
