Protest Against Prabowo's Free Meal Programme Turns Violent in Makassar
A demonstration by the Islamic Students’ Association (HMI) in front of the Alauddin State Islamic University (UIN) Makassar turned violent on Monday evening. The protesters clashed with local residents and online motorcycle taxi drivers while voicing their opposition to President Prabowo Subianto’s policies, which they deem not pro-people.
The chaos erupted when the protesters blocked part of Jalan Sultan Alauddin, disrupting access from Gowa Regency to Makassar City and causing severe traffic congestion. ‘There was no brawl; the protesters were chased away by local residents and motorists because they were blocking the road and burning tyres,’ said Makassar Police Chief, Commissioner Arya Perdana, to CNNIndonesia.com on Monday (29/6).
The ongoing student protest was suddenly attacked by residents and a number of online motorcycle taxi drivers, leading to a retaliatory exchange of stone-throwing. ‘The public was angry because an ambulance couldn’t get through. So, the dispersal was a natural reaction,’ he stated.
Commissioner Arya explained that under the applicable law, demonstrations are permitted only until 6 p.m. As the protest continued into the night, it significantly disturbed the public. ‘The police tried to act persuasively and humanely by negotiating and engaging in dialogue, but they were ignored. Demonstrating is a human right, but one’s human rights must not infringe upon the human rights of others,’ he clarified.
Police remain on guard at the site of the clash between HMI members and online motorcycle taxi drivers on Jalan Sultan Alauddin. During the protest, the students presented ten demands, including: temporarily halting the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme pending a comprehensive evaluation of its management, budget, oversight, and accountability; rejecting the Village/Sub-district Cooperative Programme; lowering fuel prices and investigating alleged irregularities causing shortages; stabilising inflation and strengthening the rupiah’s exchange rate; realising free, quality, and inclusive education; urging the House of Representatives and the government to immediately pass the Asset Forfeiture Bill; stopping the criminalisation of activists, students, journalists, and civil society; revoking regulations deemed to weaken accountability and democratic control over the police; rejecting the expansion of the military’s role beyond state defence; and urging a revision of the Election Law, including an evaluation of the parliamentary threshold to strengthen democracy.