Palace Clarifies Prabowo's Version of Academic Freedom

Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro has stated that President Prabowo Subianto respects academic freedom within the higher education environment. However, this freedom must remain within the corridor of scholarship and be accountable. The statement clarifies Prabowo’s earlier remarks that campuses have ‘academic freedom, not other kinds of freedom’. ‘The President always conveys that campuses have academic freedom. And everyone knows, it is indisputable, and the President fully understands and respects academic freedom on campus,’ Juri said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday, 29 June 2026. Juri said Prabowo’s emphasis was on the aspect of accountability to academic values in every activity within the higher education sphere. ‘As long as it can be academically accounted for, then that freedom on campus is legitimate and permissible,’ Juri stated. He noted that the government’s concern arises if the freedom exercised by various groups in higher education is not based on scholarly values. ‘The issue is whether the freedoms exercised by many in the campus environment reflect academic freedom or are completely outside things not based on academic values. That is the note,’ Juri said. On Sunday, 28 June 2026, in a speech at the Science, Technology, and Industry Convention, Prabowo Subianto spoke about freedom in the higher education environment. During his speech, Prabowo likened the Indonesian nation to passengers on a large ship, where differences of opinion are not a problem. The Gerindra Party chairman said universities are places where ideas are contested. ‘University is a place where ideas are contested. A contest of ideas, a contest of views, a contest of philosophies, a contest of innovations,’ Prabowo said in Jakarta on Sunday. The former defence minister under President Joko Widodo said such differences are a form of academic freedom. However, he added a note that academic freedom on campus does not mean other kinds of freedoms. ‘It is stated there that campuses have academic freedom. Academic freedom, not other kinds of freedom,’ he said.