A Series of Threats Experienced by Tiyo Ardianto

Former Chairman of the Gadjah Mada University Student Executive Body, Tiyo Ardianto, recently experienced terror from an unknown person. He was allegedly stalked using a tracking device attached to his car. The terror occurred after he participated in the ‘Gejayan Memanggil’ demonstration in Yogyakarta on Saturday, 13 June 2026. The PBX Finder tracking device was found under the body frame of his brother’s car, which he had borrowed. Tiyo said the terror he experienced was unusual. He highlighted a regime of power that often responds to public criticism with threats. “How dangerous it is to be an Indonesian human being who loves his nation,” Tiyo said in his statement on Saturday, 13 June 2026. Tiyo actively voices his aspirations and criticisms of the administration of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Tempo noted he has previously received other forms of terror and intimidation. Here are some of them. Terrorised for Rejecting the TNI Law On 20 March 2025, while still active as Chairman of the UGM Student Executive Body, Tiyo said he received various forms of terror and intimidation after protesting against the Indonesian National Armed Forces Law. He said the intimidation attacked him psychologically. One form was a banner installed in the Abu Bakar Ali parking area, the gathering location for the masses protesting the TNI Law. The banner read “Beware Student Movement Infiltrated by Foreign Stooges” in a blood-nuanced font. The banner also displayed pictures of four people, one of which was a photo of Tiyo Ardianto. Additionally, Tiyo said he received terror threats involving his parents. Tiyo recounted that the terroriser’s message threatened his parents’ safety if he continued to hold protests against the ratification of the TNI Law. “I will not be deterred and will continue to move against policies that are not in favour of the people’s interests,” said Tiyo in response to the terror. Terrorised After Criticising Prabowo Over Student Suicide Incident in NTT Tiyo Ardianto was also terrorised for criticising President Prabowo Subianto regarding the suicide incident of an elementary school student in East Nusa Tenggara due to the inability to afford learning equipment. Tiyo admitted receiving a WhatsApp message with a kidnapping threat from a UK code number. The message was received by Tiyo a few days after the UGM Student Executive Body criticised the President. Besides the kidnapping threat, Tiyo received messages accusing him of being a foreign agent and seeking the limelight. He also said he was once stalked by two people while at a café. The stalking occurred a day after the threat appeared on his device. “They took photos and hurriedly left,” Tiyo said on Thursday, 12 February 2026. Offered Wealth Allegedly from the Authorities Not only receiving threats to his safety, Tiyo was also intimidated through offers of wealth. The UGM Philosophy undergraduate said the offer allegedly came from the authorities. Tiyo referred to the party as a high-ranking official of a ‘starred institution’. He chose not to convey to the public who the person and institution in question were. “But I am accountable for this testimony,” said Tiyo when contacted on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. In a photo-text collage he uploaded to his social media account, Tiyo recounted that initially he was invited to meet by someone carrying a message from the high-ranking official of the starred institution. Tiyo knew this intermediary and had interacted with him, albeit limitedly. Tiyo said this intermediary contacted him to invite him for a friendly gathering in Yogyakarta on Sunday, 7 June 2026. “I lightly agreed to the invitation because I had free time,” said Tiyo. The intermediary, Tiyo said, conveyed that the high-ranking official of the starred institution wanted to meet directly. He said the official wanted to give him whatever he desired. Tiyo had not yet had time to respond, but the person sent by the official continued his story. According to Tiyo’s testimony, the person conveyed that one of the leaders of a national movement organisation had already received an allocation from this starred institution. The intermediary told Tiyo that the allocation in question would soon become a food stall business identical to the recipient’s region of origin. Its value was said to reach billions of rupiah. Tiyo cut off the intermediary’s talk. He stated he did not need any luxury like that offered by the high-ranking official of the starred institution. He suspected the offer from the power group was an attempt to co-opt members of the public who are vocal in criticising government policy. Moreover, Tiyo heard directly the intermediary’s admission that the other party who had already accepted the offer was asked to be obedient and loyal. Tiyo emphasised that not all activists can be bought and subdued with promises of wealth. “This world still holds many people who strive for goodness,” he said.