BEM Persatuan Indonesia Alliance Calls for Dialogue-Based Democracy

Around 100 students from dozens of university student executive bodies (BEM) across Indonesia, united under the BEM Persatuan Indonesia alliance, staged a peaceful demonstration in the Patung Kuda area of Monas, Central Jakarta, on Friday (19/6). The action, themed ‘Unity, Struggle for Justice, Democracy and Indonesia’s Future’, highlighted various national dynamics, ranging from governance to economic stability. In their speeches, the students expressed deep concern over the state of the nation’s administration and the spread of disinformation in society. As a form of intellectual responsibility, the alliance urged that democratic space be nurtured through dialogue and measured argument, rather than provocation or silencing.

Highlighting strategic programmes, Hikmah Maulana, a representative of the alliance from Jayabaya University, explained that the action was a genuine expression of concern for the nation’s direction, not merely baseless criticism. ‘We see that many government programmes have very good objectives, such as the free nutritious meals initiative which serves as a foundation for preparing the Golden Generation of 2045. However, these noble goals must be matched with orderly, transparent and accountable management to prevent irregularities or budget wastage,’ Hikmah stated. He added that a comprehensive evaluation of national strategic programmes is essential to ensure implementation adheres to the principles of good governance and prevailing laws. ‘We want to ensure that every rupiah of the people’s money is used for public welfare, not for the interests of certain groups,’ he stressed.

Rejecting persecution, Ikhsan Buyung Kalean, a representative from Ibnu Chaldun University, emphasised the importance of safeguarding democratic values and unity amidst differing political views. ‘We strongly condemn any form of persecution or restriction of discussion space. Democracy grows through dialogue and the exchange of ideas, not by shutting down differing opinions,’ Ikhsan said. In addition to highlighting freedom of expression, Ikhsan also urged the government to maintain the stability of staple food prices and subsidised fuel to protect people’s purchasing power. He specifically challenged public officials to open transparent discussion forums regarding state policies.

The alliance had previously formulated five official stance points to guide their demands, including a position on the free nutritious meals programme. Based on in-depth study, they support the programme’s continuation to fulfil basic nutritional needs, but with the absolute condition of comprehensive improvements to its implementation mechanism.