Students After Meeting DPR: Don't Play Games with People's Livelihoods

Student representatives have issued an ultimatum to the government, warning it not to play games with issues concerning the people’s livelihoods and basic needs. This was conveyed by Dhenni Ribowo, a representative of the student masses, after holding a closed-door meeting with DPR leaders during a protest rally in front of the parliament complex. Dhenni, speaking at a press conference after the meeting, expressed hope that the DPR would act as a conduit for the students’ and the public’s demands. He urged the government not to trifle with these demands. “Don’t test the people on the issue of their stomachs. Because if the people become hungry and emotional, the government will ultimately bear the brunt,” Dhenni said. The meeting lasted approximately 1.5 hours, from 18:00 to around 19:30 WIB. Dhenni stated that during the meeting, the students conveyed most of their demands to the DPR and the government. Some demands were directly answered by the government because, during the meeting, DPR leaders immediately contacted several relevant officials. He said the students would continue to monitor the situation to ensure their demands are met, particularly those concerning the prices of basic necessities and energy. “One issue that directly impacts the public is the scarcity of subsidised fuel,” he noted. On the same occasion, Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said his side had received the students’ aspirations and relayed them directly to the government. “We have communicated and interacted very well, and because time was a limiting factor, we will communicate more with our younger siblings, the students, going forward,” he said. Besides Trisakti University, other student groups present included those from Mercu Buana University and Esa Unggul University. Representatives from the HMI MPO Central Board were also in attendance.