NTT Alliance Holds Protest, Criticises Free Meals Programme to Kopdes Merah Putih
The Aliansi NTT Menggugat (NTT Accusing Alliance) held a demonstration in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), this afternoon. The crowd criticised several programmes of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration, which they deem to be impoverishing the people. These include the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, National Strategic Projects (PSN), and the Kopdes Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperative) scheme.
“Amidst the storm of crisis, the government is instead deepening the suffering of the people by forcing through the damned MBG programme, Kopdes Merah Putih, and PSN,” said the general coordinator of the action, Ama Makin, during his oration on Friday (12/6/2026).
The Aliansi NTT Menggugat considers the MBG programme to have failed to meet its targets. The crowd also highlighted that funding for the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s flagship programme was cut from the education budget. “The MBG programme, whose funding source was slashed from the education budget, has proven to be a failure,” Ama Makin stated.
The Kopdes Merah Putih programme also came under fire. The crowd argued that the programme is instead trapping farmers in rural areas. Additionally, the demonstrators condemned land grabs for the benefit of PSN. Ama Makin said these three government programmes must be criticised amidst the current economic downturn. “2026 has become the worst year for the Indonesian economy. The people’s suffering is not receding but instead deepening and becoming acute,” he said.
Furthermore, the Aliansi NTT Menggugat highlighted the weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar. They noted that the exchange rate touching Rp 18,000 per US dollar is the lowest level in history, surpassing the 1998 crisis. They demanded that the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s policies truly side with ordinary people. After the oration, the crowd submitted a statement of stance to representatives of the NTT Regional House of Representatives (DPRD).
The following are the demands of the Aliansi NTT Menggugat:
Lower the prices of fuel and basic necessities.
Stop all National Strategic Projects that harm the people.
Urge the Prabowo Subianto government to withdraw from BOP and ATR.
Stop all forms of international cooperation that do not benefit the people.
Cancel the construction of territorial development battalions.
Reject the construction of SPPG on campuses.
Stop the suppression of academic space on campuses.
Stop all monopoly schemes and land grabbing in Indonesia.
Revoke the Police Law.
Realise education that is scientific, democratic, and serves the people.
Realise genuine agrarian reform and build National Industrialisation.
Reject geothermal development in NTT.
Stop the PSN for the national salt industry centre area in Rote Ndao Regency.
Provide protection rights for NTT migrant workers.
Revoke the Minister of Environment and Forestry Decree No. 946 of 2024 concerning the transition of the Mutis Timau nature reserve status to a National Park.
Provide land certainty for the ex-East Timor community.
Immediately repair road and bridge infrastructure in NTT.
Stop military deployments in Papua and resolve violations in Papua.
Open journalist access to Papua.
Stop national strategic projects in South Papua.
Stop the criminalisation of struggling activists.
Free all political prisoners in Indonesia.
Stop acts of discrimination and harassment against women.
Urge the Rote Ndao Regency government to immediately open road access to Bo’a Beach, which was unilaterally closed by PT Bo’a Development.
Stop the privatisation of the Bo’a Beach coastal area in Rote Ndao Regency.
Urge the Kupang City Police to immediately expedite the legal process regarding the death of Yerdi Bekliu.
Stop divisive politics against the struggling people.