Mother of UGM Student Council Chairman Terrorized After Her Son Criticized the MBG Project

THE terror targeting the Chairman of the Student Executive Board of Gadjah Mada University (BEM UGM) in Yogyakarta, Tiyo Ardianto, has spread to his parents. Tiyo recounted that the terror against his mother occurred on Saturday evening, 14 February. A WhatsApp message suddenly arrived on his mother’s number. The message contained accusations that Tiyo had embezzled campus funds.

“Apparently his hobby is skimming campus funds, no wonder he’s so active—it’s for the kickbacks,” read the threatening message, as recited by Tiyo when contacted on Sunday, 15 February 2026.

The sender attached a photo of Tiyo with a caption stating that the BEM UGM Chairman had “embezzled” fundraising money meant for students receiving the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP).

After receiving the threat, Tiyo’s mother became anxious. “I reassured my mother that nothing would happen,” he said.

Previously, Tiyo had received threats after protesting President Prabowo Subianto’s government for failing to guarantee children’s basic rights following the tragedy of a child who committed suicide in East Nusa Tenggara.

Tiyo said he has continued his activities as normal since the first round of terror. On Friday, 13 February 2026, for instance, he was still able to deliver a speech at an event organized by the Indonesian Mothers’ Voice Community at the UGM Roundabout alongside several academics and activists. Tiyo gave his speech wearing a black T-shirt with the words “Maling Berkedok Gizi” (Thieves Disguised as Nutrition), or MBG.

Tiyo and BEM UGM have previously and repeatedly protested the MBG project, which they say has poisoned students and harmed education due to budget cuts made to fund the program.

A day later, Tiyo received another threat. A fellow student informed him that someone was targeting him for delivering a speech protesting the MBG project. The person threatened to kill him.

Tiyo showed all the threatening messages. According to him, the university administration has been in contact with him and offered support. The statement of support came from UGM’s Directorate of Student Affairs.

Constitutional Law lecturer at UGM’s Faculty of Law, Herlambang P. Wiratraman, condemned the terror against Tiyo. Herlambang expressed appreciation for BEM UGM’s efforts in nurturing and maintaining criticism as a response to a paradoxical reality. An example of such a paradox is the government’s failure to set humanitarian priorities. BEM UGM sees the irony in the government’s ability to contribute Rp 16.7 trillion to the Board of Peace established by controversial US President Donald Trump, while a child committed suicide for not having Rp 10,000 to buy a pen and notebook for school.

“Their criticism is a legitimate form of expression and should be protected by law,” said Herlambang.

The Chairman of the Center for Legal Studies and Social Justice (LSJ) at UGM’s Faculty of Law stated that the pressure or threats against Tiyo constitute a form of silencing freedom of opinion and expression. The terror violates constitutional legal standards, as these fundamental freedoms have been protected by the 1945 Constitution since Indonesia’s founding. The Constitution also guarantees freedom of expression.

He urged the state to take action in uncovering the pressure and intimidation. If the state remains silent, it is allowing repeated attacks against students and activists to continue. “The perpetrators of terror must be held accountable,” he said.

Previously, Tiyo received a WhatsApp message threatening kidnapping from a number with a UK country code, four days after BEM criticized Prabowo on 6 February. In addition to kidnapping threats, the sender also accused Tiyo of being a foreign agent and seeking the spotlight.

“Foreign agent. Stop seeking the spotlight peddling garbage narratives,” the message read.

Tempo checked the number through the Getcontact application. The identity of the number’s owner was not listed.

According to Tiyo, in addition to receiving threats via WhatsApp messages, he was also followed by two individuals while at a café. The stalking occurred the day after the threats appeared.

“They took photos and hurried away,” said Tiyo.

BEM’s protest to Prabowo was carried out by sending an open letter to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN body focused on protecting the rights, health, nutrition, and education of children worldwide.

BEM sent the letter on 6 February to respond to the tragedy of an elementary school student who committed suicide in NTT, allegedly because the child could not afford to buy a pen and school notebook costing less than Rp 10,000.

According to Tiyo, the incident reflects the state’s failure to guarantee children’s basic rights, particularly access to education. The failure to provide child protection is inseparable from the government’s policies and priority direction.

Tiyo expressed gratitude to the public for their support and prayers. He declared he is neither afraid nor intimidated by the terror. Similar threats are not new—he had previously received death threats for criticizing the revision of the TNI Law, which he said would return Indonesia to the authoritarian New Order era.

“Tyrannical rulers will never live in peace as long as sane people continue to be born in this republic,” said Tiyo.