BEM UI Confirms Follow-Up Demonstration in the Near Future

The University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI) has confirmed it will hold a follow-up demonstration after their action in the Bundaran HI area on Friday (12/6). “There will be a follow-up action, yes,” said BEM UI Chairman Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan when confirmed on Saturday (13/6). The same sentiment was conveyed by the Chairman of BEM at UI’s Faculty of Law, Anandaku Dimas. However, Dimas has not yet disclosed the timing. He said the group is currently consolidating. “Hopefully it will continue, we will try to consolidate again soon,” he said. The student masses, predominantly from BEM chapters across UI, highlighted several issues of recent concern during yesterday’s protest. These ranged from the weakening of the rupiah, the state budget (APBN), fuel price hikes, to the Free Nutritious Meal programme (MBG). The students brought five demands: first, asking the government to stop wasteful state budget spending; second, to lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel; third, to halt the MBG programme and the construction of the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives); fourth, to stop civilian militarisation; and fifth, demanding that President Prabowo Subianto stop evading and acknowledge the government’s mistakes.