BEM Bersatu Rejects Student Movements Hijacked by Political Interests

The BEM Bersatu student alliance has declared its rejection of student movements being hijacked by practical political interests. ‘We, BEM Bersatu, reject all forms of hijacking of student movements by practical political interests. The student movement must remain the voice of the people, not a tool for elites in power struggles,’ said BEM Bersatu spokesperson Rahmat Djimbula during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. The statement was made in response to a number of recent student protests. ‘We assess that several recent student actions have begun to lose direction, marked by minimal research, weak argumentation, and unclear substantive demands. This condition raises the question of whether the movement still sides with the people or has been infiltrated by certain agendas,’ he said. BEM Bersatu questioned the prioritisation of issues raised. According to the alliance, amidst the basic needs of society, attention has been diverted to issues that are not of primary urgency. ‘Meanwhile, the Free Nutritious Meals programme, which directly impacts nutrition and public welfare, has become a target of rejection, even though improvements in governance remain necessary,’ Rahmat added. Furthermore, BEM Bersatu observed indications of involvement by practical political actors in the student movement. In this context, the alliance referred to former UGM BEM chairman Tiyo Ardianto. ‘One of the protest leaders, Tiyo Ardianto, is suspected of having close ties to a particular political network. The Fortuner vehicle used is allegedly registered under the name of Siti Nuraeni, the younger sister of retired Lieutenant General Setyo Sularso, who is the in-law of General (ret.) Andhika Perkasa, a figure in Ganjar Pranowo’s 2024 presidential campaign team. This suspicion is reinforced by the presence of PDI Perjuangan politician Andi Widjajanto among the demonstrators,’ Rahmat stated. ‘This connection is further strengthened by Tiyo Ardianto’s attendance at a national dialogue forum scheduled to be held in Bandung on 18 June 2026, alongside figures such as Said Didu, Roy Suryo, Refly Harun, and Dr Tifa. In the same forum, retired Lieutenant General Setyo Sularso is also listed as attending, indicating a network that warrants scrutiny,’ he added. BEM Bersatu also rejected crisis narratives not based on complete data, which they believe could divert public focus from important agendas such as eradicating corruption. ‘We regret the alleged exploitation of student actions by external parties, as has been clarified by several BEMs, including those from Jakarta State University and Indraprasta PGRI University,’ Rahmat said. Rahmat conveyed that BEM Bersatu urges the sterilisation of the student movement from funding, facilities, and all forms of practical political intervention. BEM Bersatu also supports the continuation of the Free Nutritious Meals programme with the condition of improved governance, backs the investigation of alleged corruption cases without discrimination, and calls on Indonesian students to critically and objectively oversee the legal process. ‘We, BEM Bersatu, will continue to safeguard the purity of the student movement so that it remains independent, aligned with the people, and free from elite political intervention,’ he said.