Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta on Student Protests: Our Democracy Is Healthy

Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta considers the recent series of student demonstrations in Jakarta and other regions as an indication of a healthy democracy. Anis assessed that the protests demonstrate the state guarantees every form of public aspiration. “These student actions show our democracy is healthy. It means there is space to express oneself freely, which is guaranteed by our constitution,” Anis said after attending a technical guidance session for Gelora Party regional legislators in Jakarta on Saturday (13/6). Anis, who is also the General Chairman of the Gelora Party, believes the state and civil society currently have a harmonious relationship. He did not deny there is considerable public dissatisfaction with the current government. However, he continued, providing space to voice opinions through demonstrations will offer good input for the government. “This will also, God willing, spur the government to work better. So, I don’t see anything we need to worry about,” he said. “Once again, this shows our democracy is healthy, and we certainly appreciate our student friends who, generally speaking, can be said to represent the public voice or the voice of the people in Indonesia regarding the issues they are demanding,” he added. The student masses, dominated by the University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI), in their action highlighted several issues that have been of concern recently. These range from the weakening of the rupiah, the state budget (APBN), fuel price hikes, to the free nutritious meal programme (MBG). Besides Jakarta, demonstrations were also held in other regions, such as Solo, Bandung, and Yogyakarta. The complete list of student demands is as follows: 1. Stop the waste of the state budget (APBN). 2. Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel (BBM). 3. Halt the MBG programme and the construction of the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives). 4. End militarism in the civilian sphere. 5. Demand Prabowo stop evading and acknowledge the government’s mistakes.