Student Protests Erupt in Surabaya and Makassar Against Prabowo's Policies
A wave of student protests criticising the central government’s misguided programmes took place in Surabaya, East Java, and Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday (24/6). The demonstrators presented a series of demands in front of local government offices and the regional legislative council (DPRD), with the situation turning heated between the masses and security officers.
In Surabaya, a protest by hundreds of students affiliated with the East Java branch of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) escalated in front of the Governor’s office. The crowd burned tyres, blockaded Jalan Pahlawan, and engaged in a shoving match with police after dialogue with provincial government representatives reached a deadlock.
PKC PMII East Java General Secretary Abdur Razak stated that around 500 students participated in the action. Prior to the rally, the masses visited the Taman Makam Pahlawan (Heroes’ Cemetery) as a symbol of their disappointment with the government. “We felt that today we could not talk to the living government, so we complained about everything to the heroes who preceded us,” Razak said during the protest.
The situation escalated around 3:30 PM local time. The protesters issued a five-minute ultimatum for the provincial government to send a representative with decision-making authority. The government dispatched the Secretary of the National Unity and Politics Agency (Bakesbangpol), Isa Ansori, but the students deemed him unauthorised to address their demands and insisted on the presence of the Regional Secretary. When the leadership failed to appear, the crowd attempted to storm the office gate, leading to a shoving match with police. The students then blockaded Jalan Pahlawan, paralysing traffic.
“There was someone who met us, but they had no authority over our demands. That’s why we chose to blockade the road to try to bring them out, but the result was nothing,” Razak explained.
The students’ demands included an evaluation of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, rejection of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme and the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives), cessation of battalion construction on productive agricultural land, and a crackdown on illegal mining in East Java. “We also raised regional issues regarding environmental damage caused by the mining industry in East Java. We demand a large-scale operation to revoke the licences of unlicensed mines,” Razak stated. The crowd eventually dispersed after blockading the road for approximately one hour, with organisers hinting at possible future protests.
Meanwhile, in Makassar, students from the PMII Makassar City branch demonstrated at the South Sulawesi DPRD office. The protest turned tense when participants attempted to burn used tyres and police officers responded by extinguishing the fire, leading to a shoving match. The students demanded a total evaluation of the Red and White Cabinet and the cancellation of the Free Nutritious Meals programme, calling for a thorough review by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
“We demand the president conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Red and White Cabinet. Ministers and state officials who lack competence, integrity, or the ability to carry out the people’s mandate must be replaced with professional figures who have capacity, track records, and a commitment to public service,” the action coordinator stated. A PMII Makassar official, Yudhoyono, confirmed that three cadres were briefly detained by police and taken to the Makassar Police headquarters for questioning. However, Makassar Police Operations Chief AKBP Hari Harry F Aritonang claimed officers only extinguished the burning tyres and stated he was unaware of any arrests, pending further checks.