Student Protest in Denpasar Sends Demands to Bali DPRD

A coalition of university student executive bodies (BEM) and civil society organisations held a demonstration in front of the Bali Provincial DPRD building in Renon, Denpasar, on Monday (22/6) afternoon. The group, calling itself ‘Aksi Bali Bergerak’ (Bali Moves Action), voiced various national and local concerns regarding government policies deemed detrimental to the public. Protesters arrived carrying banners and posters, including one reading ‘Where is this country headed, mate?’ and another stating ‘After darkness, light never comes’. The crowd formed a circle in front of the DPRD gates, laying out their banners and taking turns delivering speeches. They also handed over a document containing their analysis of various national issues to Deputy Speaker III of the Bali DPRD, I Komang Nova Sewi Putra, and other council members who met with them. Representing the demonstrators, I Gusti Agung Ngurah Oka Paramahamsa, Chair of the Udayana University BEM, stated that the action broadly covered five areas: economic issues, democracy, civil liberties, human rights enforcement, and the environment and education. He urged the Bali DPRD to convey their demands to the central government, setting a three-day deadline for a response. ‘If within three days there is no movement, and no indication that our demands have been forwarded to the centre or given direct attention, whether through social media, online, or on the ground, we will take to the streets again,’ he declared. He stressed a loss of faith in previous dialogues, adding, ‘Rest assured, our resistance will continue, ensuring justice is upheld and the people’s rights are returned to them.’ The demands of Aksi Bali Bergerak encompass democracy, civilian supremacy and governance, economic and human rights issues, education, and the environment. Specific points include demanding the Indonesian Government thoroughly investigate all alleged human rights violations in Papua and withdraw military apparatus to guarantee the protection of civilians’ civil rights. They also demanded the President and the Ministry of Finance fix the state budget deficit and stop wasteful spending that does not favour public welfare. Further demands called for the President to halt the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) programme and restore education funding allocations in accordance with the constitutional mandate of 20 per cent mandatory spending, as well as promoting equitable access to education in frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions. The protesters also demanded the President, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, and related parties stop reckless deforestation practices, such as those occurring in Papua under the guise of food self-sufficiency. The Bali Bergerak protest was secured by hundreds of personnel from the Denpasar City Police and Bali Regional Police. Denpasar Police Chief Commissioner Pol. Lenardo D. Simatupang emphasised that the police presence was a form of service to citizens exercising their democratic space to voice aspirations. All personnel were instructed to carry out duties according to their assigned functions and plots, prioritising a persuasive approach throughout the event. The Police Chief also stressed that officers should act patiently, sincerely, and humanely, avoiding actions that could trigger security disturbances or anarchic behaviour. A total of 459 joint personnel were deployed to secure the action, ensuring the entire series of opinion-expression activities could proceed safely, orderly, and conducively.