Chronology of Students Storming and Chasing Nusron-Budiman at UGM

A discussion event held at Joglo GIK UGM, Sleman, Yogyakarta, and attended by several state officials turned chaotic after being stormed by hundreds of students on Monday evening (16/6). The Kopdar Bareng Mas Dar forum featured Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Nusron Wahid, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, and Head of the Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency Budiman Sudjatmiko, with the theme ‘Pancasila Unites the Indonesian Nation’.

The Kopdar initially proceeded smoothly and in a conducive atmosphere. The three officials each had their turn to speak on stage. The situation escalated when they were asked to respond to a viral video about former UGM Student Executive Board chairman Tiyo Ardianto, who discovered a suspected tracking device in his car.

Sudaryono was the first to respond, followed by Budiman. However, before Budiman could finish his remarks, a loudspeaker siren suddenly sounded from outside the stage. Students then rushed onto the stage and quickly surrounded the area. Some unfurled banners reading ‘UGM Rejects Traitors of Reformasi’ and ‘UGM Rejects Regime Sycophants’. The students’ chants were not entirely clear, but the most prominent cry was ‘Revolution’.

Budiman was subsequently evacuated from the stage under escort by campus security before an incident involving the throwing of mineral water glasses broke out. After Budiman was no longer visible, the students continued searching for him, while dozens to hundreds of other students blocked the officials’ vehicles at the east exit of GIK. ‘Budiman, where is Budiman!’ the students shouted. ‘You said you wanted to discuss,’ another student yelled. ‘If Budiman and Sudaryono do not come out, we will not leave!’ another student exclaimed.

Later, Nusron and Sudaryono came out to meet the students. Both appeared with security escorts and headed towards the south gate of UGM. However, before reaching the exit, the students managed to make Nusron and Sudaryono sit cross-legged on the asphalt and engage in dialogue. After the shouting subsided, a student questioned Nusron about hundreds of thousands of hectares of land in Papua that had been converted, displacing local communities, and demanded accountability from him as Minister of ATR/BPN.

Nusron’s response, which invited the students to visit Papua to see the facts on the ground, did not satisfy them and instead heightened tensions. A few minutes later, Nusron and Sudaryono rose from their seated position and moved towards the UGM Roundabout. The students attempted to block them with water barriers, but the group with their security escort broke through. A chase ensued towards the east of the UGM Roundabout. Nusron and Sudaryono were eventually evacuated, leaving the location in a patrol car. The students briefly pursued them towards the west of the UGM roundabout.

Separately, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono and Head of BP Taskin Budiman Sudjatmiko spoke out about the incident. In an official statement on Tuesday (16/6), Sudaryono apologised to the students who had attended but could not participate in the forum optimally due to the disruption. ‘I apologise to the students who actually wanted to have a good dialogue,’ Sudaryono said. He stated that open discussion was his main purpose for attending the event. ‘We came to UGM precisely to discuss. This event had been planned for a long time and had received permission from the campus,’ he said. Sudaryono denied claims that he left the location to avoid dialogue, noting that he had even sat on the asphalt with the students who pursued him. He affirmed that the government under President Prabowo Subianto is open to criticism and upholds democracy.

Similarly, BP Taskin Head Budiman Sudjatmiko regretted that the discussion was halted due to the incident. ‘We should have been able to have a healthy and smooth dialogue. I was willing to discuss with the students. But unfortunately, the conditions were no longer conducive,’ Budiman said. He admitted he had no objection to staying inside the building and meeting the students, but security personnel decided to evacuate him due to concerns that the situation would become increasingly uncontrollable. Budiman expressed hope that differences of opinion could be conveyed through open and orderly dialogue, and that the campus should be a healthy space for the exchange of ideas.