2,000 Students Gather in Semarang to Protest Corruption and Forest Fires

SEMARANG — At least 2,000 students from several universities in Semarang staged a demonstration outside the Central Java Governor’s Office on Thursday afternoon (22 October 2026). They voiced a range of criticisms and demands to mark the second anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s administration.

When they arrived at the gates of the governor’s office, the demonstrators unfurled banners and put up posters. The banners included slogans such as “Protect environmental defenders, bring environmental destroyers to justice”, “Nature does not belong to a select few” and “Overpaid politicians, underpaid teachers”. One banner also used an expletive to attack government officials.

Ramanda Bima Prayuda, a representative of the Catholic Students’ Association of the Republic of Indonesia (PMKRI), said students from several universities in Semarang took part, including Diponegoro University (Undip), Sultan Agung Islamic University (Unissula), Semarang State Polytechnic (Polines) and Semarang State University (Unnes). “We estimate that 2,000 people took part,” Ramanda told reporters after delivering a speech.

Ramanda said the students had brought forward several demands at the protest marking two years of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. First, they called for staple food prices to be stabilised and access to fuel to be made easier.

“Second, return the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to their primary roles,” Ramanda said.

Their third demand was a comprehensive review of national strategic projects. “Fourth, return land rights to the people and restore areas affected by disasters,” Ramanda said.

He added that the students’ final demand was an end to corruption, collusion and nepotism. Ramanda said the public was dissatisfied with the Prabowo-Gibran administration. “If I may be honest and give it a score, minus 100,” he said.

Ramanda also highlighted the challenges facing the public, particularly forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. He said the government had been slow to address the fires, leaving the public to bear the consequences.