Students Criticise Tight Security at UNM During Hardiknas in Makassar

A number of students from Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM) criticised the super tight security by the police around the campus area during the National Education Day (Hardiknas) commemoration in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Saturday (2/5). They also requested that the police leave the area around the campus. Observations by CNNIndonesia.com in the afternoon in front of the UNM campus showed several police officers, both in plain clothes and in full uniform with tear gas launchers, conducting security around the campus. In their oration, the students highlighted the police security at the UNM campus, which they considered excessive and disruptive to the psychological condition of students carrying out activities inside the campus. “Under whose orders is this? If you want to conduct security, please go to Papua, there are many problems there. Don’t do it in the campus area,” said the action orator on Saturday (2/5). The student masses emphasised that the campus is a place for creativity and expressing critical ideas against government policies that are not pro-people. “The campus is a place for thinkers, not anarchists, why are you monitoring the campus with many barricades and many police officers,” the orator stated. The students had previously held a Hardiknas commemoration action at the intersection of Jalan AP Pettarani-Jalan Sultan Alauddin. However, after that, they were surprised by the large number of police officers around the UNM campus. The students urged the police officers to immediately leave the location around the UNM campus. “Don’t spread fear to students, we are carrying out peaceful demonstrations, as if we are going to be anarchic with so many officers in front of the campus,” he said. Until 18:22 WITA, police officers were still conducting security around the UNM campus area. Security continued despite light rain currently falling in Makassar. Explanation from the Makassar Police Chief When confirmed, the Makassar Police Chief, Comb. Pol. Arya Perdana, said that vehicles and personnel were placed around the UNM campus due to considerations of greater road access. “For UNM itself, we indeed place police vehicles there because the road is the widest; if it’s closed, it would be troublesome,” Arya told CNNIndonesia.com. According to him, if public roads accessed by the public were closed due to parking of tactical police vehicles, it would disadvantage residents who are currently active today. “The guarding is equally tight wherever, but specifically at UNM, we place vehicles to anticipate traffic jams,” he said. Then, Arya said that his side also quickly anticipated students who were protesting at several points on Jalan AP Pettarani in case unwanted things happen. “Anticipate traffic jams and anticipate students who are demonstrating,” he said. Meanwhile, the Acting Rector of UNM, Prof. Farida Patittingi, when confirmed, has not provided an official statement.