PDIP Politicians Deny Allegations of Links to Activist Tiyo Ardianto

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has spoken out against accusations that it has a political network involving former Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Board (BEM) chairman Tiyo Ardianto. Several party politicians have denied the claims made by a number of students from the BEM Bersatu alliance.

On Tuesday (16/6/2026), a representative of BEM Bersatu and chairman of BEM Hukum UIC, Rahmat Djimbula, made the statement during a press conference in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta. He highlighted the closeness of Tiyo Ardianto, one of the protest organisers, to a retired general. This was based on the fact that the Fortuner vehicle used by Tiyo was registered under the name of Siti Nuraeni, who is linked to retired TNI General Andhika Perkasa, a key figure in Ganjar Pranowo’s presidential campaign team in the 2024 election.

“The Fortuner car he used is suspected to be registered under the name of Siti Nuraeni, the younger sibling of retired TNI Lieutenant General Setyo Sularso, who is the in-law of retired TNI General Andhika Perkasa, a key figure in Ganjar Pranowo’s 2024 presidential campaign team. This suspicion is reinforced by the presence of PDIP politician Andi Widjajanto among the demonstrators,” said Djimbula. They also noted that Tiyo was scheduled to participate in a dialogue featuring figures such as Said Didu, Roy Suryo, Refly Harun, and Dr. Tifa. These factors formed the basis for their claim that Tiyo has close ties to a particular political network. “In the same forum, retired TNI Lieutenant General Setyo Sularso was also recorded as being present, indicating a network that warrants scrutiny,” he added.

PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Ganjar Pranowo responded to the allegations, arguing that criticism should be answered with data, not labelling, which he believes obscures the real issues. “Labelling an activist or a critical citizen as part of a certain political camp is the easiest way to avoid the substance of the matter,” Ganjar told reporters on Wednesday (17/6). “If there is criticism, answer it with data. If there is input, respond with policy. Do not build a narrative that only government supporters are allowed to speak, while those who are critical are automatically considered political opponents,” he continued.

Ganjar stressed that Indonesia was built to protect citizens’ rights, including the right to freedom of expression. “This country was not built to serve the rulers, but to protect the rights of citizens, including the right to dissent,” he said. He argued that questions about political affiliation are often not aimed at finding the truth but are a method to delegitimise criticism. “In a democracy, a citizen does not lose their right to be critical just because they once supported or are considered close to a certain political figure. What is truly dangerous is when power measures the validity of criticism based on who delivers it, rather than on the facts presented,” he explained. The former Central Java Governor warned that the country is heading towards a politics of loyalty if only criticism from government supporters is deemed valid. “If criticism is only considered legitimate when it comes from government supporters, then we are moving towards a politics of loyalty, not constitutional democracy. Rulers come and go, but the right of citizens to oversee power must always stand,” he stated.

PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Said Abdullah also firmly denied the allegations, asserting that the party had no involvement in mobilising students for demonstrations. “It is certain that PDI Perjuangan, as per the instruction of the Chairperson, had absolutely no involvement in the various demonstrations, whether the ones at the end of August or the recent student protests. Neither as cadres nor as members,” Said stated at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (17/6). He said the actions alleged were not the party’s methods and that even if Andi Widjajanto was spotted among the crowd, it should not be interpreted as PDIP involvement. “The Chairperson’s instruction was firm, because that is not the way of PDI Perjuangan. Even if various parties monitored the participation or presence of someone like Andi Widjajanto, that must not be interpreted as PDI Perjuangan,” he revealed.

Said also addressed the accusation regarding the Fortuner vehicle used by Tiyo, which was registered under the name of Siti Nuraeni, the younger sibling of retired TNI Lieutenant General Setyo Sularso, who is the in-law of retired TNI General Andhika Perkasa. Said argued that linking this family relationship to PDIP was illogical. “If he has in-laws, family, that is not something we should problematise out of place. However, to link it in this way, in my view, makes no sense at all,” said Said. “I guarantee and assure you that PDI Perjuangan will never be involved in such methods. For PDI Perjuangan, anyone who demonstrates, as long as they do not cause damage and are voicing aspirations, it is legitimate. That is the extent of it,” he added. Said emphasised that PDIP would not mobilise masses, noting that students cannot be ordered or instructed. “But to organise, to approach people to demonstrate, especially students who cannot be commanded, that is beyond our reach,” he said.

PDIP politician Guntur Romli also dismissed the allegations, describing them as forced. “We deem it necessary to correct the distortion of information and deliberate misleading of opinion built through a severely forced method of ‘cocoklogi’ (connecting unrelated dots). The accusation linking the student protests against the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) to PDI Perjuangan is a baseless slander, absurd, and injures the integrity of the student moral movement,” Guntur Romli told reporters on Wednesday (17/6).