BEM UBK to Stage Protest at State Palace Tomorrow with Six Demands

Student demonstrations will return to Jakarta on Monday, 15 June 2026. One of the groups involved is the Student Executive Body of Bung Karno University, or BEM UBK. They will stage a protest under the theme ‘Reordering Indonesia’ at 10.00 WIB at the State Palace in Jakarta. BEM UBK will present six demands, including urging the government to temporarily halt and evaluate the free nutritious meal programme and the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih; to review the National Police Law; to stop militarism and uphold civilian supremacy. Furthermore, BEM UBK is also urging the government to take strategic steps to maintain the stability of the rupiah exchange rate and national economic resilience; demanding the government provide inclusive, quality, and affordable education rights for all Indonesian people; and finally, to review the increase in fuel prices because it burdens the public. Chairman of the UBK Faculty of Law Student Executive Body, M. Abdi Maludin, explained that the ‘Reordering Indonesia’ action was the result of a consolidation of UBK student organisations on Saturday, 13 June 2026. According to Abdi, this consolidation was carried out after an internal review by the BEM at UBK concluded that the country is in a slump. This condition is marked by various demands emerging, from the discourse of ‘Reformasi Jilid 2’ to actions demanding the free nutritious meal programme be stopped. ‘So, we from the BEM of Bung Karno University consolidated with the indicator that the country today must rise from the slump that is currently ongoing,’ Abdi told Tempo on Sunday, 14 June 2026. However, Abdi said BEM UBK does not want to return to the past like the 1998 demonstrations. He stated that BEM UBK still wants Indonesia to remain united amidst the downturn. ‘We do not want Indonesia to be divided because of many provocations and all sorts of things; we must anticipate that among fellow students and the people,’ he said. Abdi said the estimated mass participating in tomorrow’s action is around 200 people from within UBK. However, this number could be higher if other campuses join. Abdi received word that the Student Executive Bodies of Pamulang University (Unpam) and Muhammadiyah University Jakarta (UMJ) said they would join tomorrow’s action. ‘They are currently consolidating and perhaps the answer will come after they finish their internal consolidation and deliberation,’ said the man who is also the field coordinator for tomorrow’s UBK action.