IPB Student Executive Body Masses Continue Protest into the Night
Hundreds of demonstrators from the Student Executive Body of the IPB University Family of Students (BEM KM IPB) remained stationed in front of the Thamrin Nine Ballroom in Central Jakarta on Monday evening, 12 June 2026. Coordinating Minister for Social and Political Affairs of BEM KM IPB, Moch Iqbal Haris, stated they had decided to stay until the government addressed their demands. “We will continue to hold out. But we are currently coordinating,” he said at the location. Tempo observed a number of protesters wearing blue university blazers still chanting struggle slogans. The crowd was larger than earlier in the day.
The University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Body (BEM UI) had earlier decided to conclude their ‘Towards an Indonesian Bankruptcy’ protest. They had planned to demonstrate at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Central Jakarta but were blocked by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police. BEM UI Chairperson Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan said the demonstration was merely the first step before their five demands are met. “This is not a one-off. This is the first step. Let us gather our energy,” he said during a speech in Central Jakarta on Friday, 12 June 2026.
The alliance’s five demands are: stop the waste of the state budget (APBN), lower the prices of staple goods and fuel, halt the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme and the construction of the Red and White Village Cooperatives, end militarism in the civilian sphere, and finally, for President Prabowo to stop evading responsibility and acknowledge the government’s mistakes. Following the speech, the BEM UI alliance issued a statement claiming that economic growth only exists on paper, contrasting sharply with the reality on the ground. “Rice prices have risen. Jobs are hard to find,” a representative said. The alliance argued that President Prabowo Subianto has displayed an arrogant, unaccountable, and anti-people stance, and that the promise of a ‘Golden Indonesia’ is instead steering the nation towards economic and democratic bankruptcy. “Data criticism is ignored. The government evades and oppresses rather than taking responsibility,” they stated. The alliance also criticised the TNI for overseeing the protest, asserting that the military should be safeguarding national sovereignty. The alliance announced plans for further action, promising to mobilise a larger crowd within one to two days. The student alliance that took to the streets included BEM UI and 15 faculty-level BEMs within UI, BEM KM IPB, BEM PNJ, BEM Universitas Pancasila, the Gunadarma BEM Alliance, FMN Pusat, FMN UI, Pembebasan, and Semar UI.