Dudung Abdurachman: Do Not Equate Criticism with Provocation
Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman has cautioned the public to be wiser in expressing criticism. According to Dudung, the people must be able to differentiate between constructive criticism and provocative actions.
“Do not equate criticism with provocation, slander, and sowing discord that can damage our brotherhood as a nation,” Dudung said via a video statement uploaded to the Instagram account @kantorstafpresidenri on Friday, 12 June 2026.
Dudung claimed the government provides space for the people to give input. “Because criticism is the breath of democracy, which must build, not demolish,” he said.
In his statement, the former Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army also recalled the history of Indonesia’s birth. According to Dudung, Indonesia grew from a long history, deep wounds, tears, sacrifice, and the blood of the nation’s founders.
He touched on various past rebellions, such as the Indonesian Communist Party rebellion in Madiun, the Darul Islam/Indonesian Islamic Army (DI/TII) movement, the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) rebellion, and the 30 September Movement.
“Ultimately, the series of Indonesian history up to the present should serve as a milestone or introspection to become an Indonesia that is just, prosperous, sovereign, and dignified,” Dudung said.
Dudung stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s administration is working to build a stronger, fairer, and more dignified Indonesia. “Let us together, as the Indonesian nation, close ranks and nurture unity towards a Golden Indonesia 2045,” he said.
Dudung’s statement was issued amid plans for a large-scale student action titled #menujuindonesiabangkrut, joined by BEM UI and an alliance of students from other universities.
Chairman of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan, said 1,000 UI students would participate in the ‘Towards a Bankrupt Indonesia’ action at the Bundaran HI roundabout in Jakarta this afternoon, Friday, 12 June 2026.
“The number of participants from the Depok area is around 1,000, and if combined with others, it could reach 3,000,” said Athof, as he is known, at the FISIP UI Parking Lot, UI Campus, Depok.
A number of students prepared various action props, including banners written with black and red spray paint. Some of the banners bore phrases such as “Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut”, “Gibran Raka Bullshit”, “Stop MBG”, and “Sweet 18 Rupiah ku”, among others.
Students are now at the Bundaran HI roundabout and have been blocked by police and TNI personnel. Police stated that Bundaran HI is not a demonstration venue. Students were asked to protest at the DPR instead.