PDIP Criticises Budiman Sudjatmiko's UGM Discussion: 'It Seemed Like a Provocation'

PDIP Central Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus has taken a swipe at a discussion involving three high-ranking state officials at the GIK UGM Joglo in Sleman, Yogyakarta, last Monday evening. The event did not conclude properly, as it was hastily disrupted following protests from a group of students at the venue. Deddy stated that ethically, the incident was indeed regrettable. However, in the context of accumulated public anger at the same time, the potential for such an occurrence was difficult to avoid. Therefore, Deddy questioned the committee’s decision to proceed with the discussion. He assessed that the choice of time and place seemed like a form of provocation. ‘I am actually questioning the choice of venue and time for the activity, which ignored the dynamics; it seemed like a challenge and showed a lack of concern,’ he said when contacted on Thursday. According to Deddy, the activity could have been held much earlier, or after the situation became conducive, while also addressing the demands of student protests. ‘So it is clear that from the start, this activity had the potential to cause friction,’ he said. Deddy also mocked Budiman’s status as a former activist who has spent the last 12 years in the centre of power. This status, according to Deddy, has separated Budiman with great distance and high walls. Deddy said Budiman cannot continuously be nostalgic or romanticise as if he is still part of the student body. This is because, Deddy noted, Budiman has now become part of the establishment. ‘It seems he is not aware of that because his position as a former activist is the only currency he uses to remain in the circle of power,’ he said. The activity was a collaboration between Kopdar Bareng Mas Dar, NYL, and Total Politik. The event was attended by Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency Nusron Wahid, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, and Head of the Poverty Alleviation Agency Budiman Sudjatmiko. In the forum titled ‘Kopdar Bareng Mas Dar: Pancasila Unites the Indonesian Nation’, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi was scheduled to attend, at least according to the event poster. However, on the day, based on observations, Prasetyo was not on stage. Through a press release a day after the discussion, Sudaryono provided clarification regarding the incident that occurred during the agenda at GIK UGM. He claimed that he, along with Nusron and Budiman, came to UGM with the intention of engaging in an open and democratic dialogue with students. ‘We came to UGM specifically to discuss. This event had been planned for a long time and had received permission from the university. This is also not the first activity of this kind,’ said Sudaryono. ‘Being asked anything is fine. Being judged in any way is also fine. We were present to dialogue democratically,’ he said. However, in the middle of the forum, Sudaryono stated that a group of participants did not want the discussion to continue, causing the situation to become unconducive. ‘We managed to discuss for about 30 to 40 minutes. But then there was a group of people who wanted the forum stopped. Even though the majority of students actually wanted to listen and engage in dialogue,’ he revealed. He claimed he remained at the location with Nusron Wahid because he believed that dialogue is the best way to resolve differences of opinion. Sudaryono denied accusations that he and his entourage left the location to avoid dialogue. ‘If anyone says Sudaryono and Nusron fled, that is not accurate. We were the ones who came to discuss. Even when our car was blocked and we were being sought, we got out and sat cross-legged on the asphalt to continue the dialogue,’ he asserted. Concluding his statement, Sudaryono affirmed the government’s commitment to continue opening spaces for dialogue with all elements of society. Separately, Budiman said the forum, which should have been a space for exchanging ideas, was forced to end early after the situation inside the room heated up. ‘We should have been able to have a healthy and smooth discussion. I was willing to discuss with the students. But unfortunately, the conditions were no longer conducive,’ Budiman said in a statement after the event. Budiman stated that he actually did not mind staying inside the building and meeting the students. However, security officers decided to evacuate him due to concerns that the situation would become uncontrollable.