Students Storm Discussion Stage with Minister Nusron and Budiman at UGM
A discussion forum at the GIK building of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Sleman, Yogyakarta, turned chaotic on Monday evening (16/6) after being stormed by hundreds of students. The event featured Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, and Head of the Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency Budiman Sudjatmiko. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who was also invited, did not attend.
The forum initially proceeded smoothly, with each official taking their turn to speak on stage. Budiman Sudjatmiko had just invited students to criticise him in formal forums rather than on social media when dozens of students suddenly rushed the stage. Some unfurled banners reading ‘UGM Rejects Reform Traitors’ and ‘UGM Rejects Regime Sycophants’.
The situation became uncontrollable, with water bottles being thrown. The three officials were quickly evacuated from the Joglo venue, but hundreds of students had already surrounded their vehicle outside. Chanting ‘Where is Budiman?’ and demanding he come out to discuss matters, the students insisted they would not leave until Budiman and Sudaryono appeared.
Nusron and Sudaryono eventually exited the vehicle to meet the students, while Budiman remained out of sight. Escorted by security, Nusron and Sudaryono attempted to leave through the south gate but were forced by the students to sit down for an impromptu discussion. A student questioned Nusron about hundreds of thousands of hectares of land in Papua being converted, leading to the displacement of local communities, and demanded accountability. Nusron’s invitation to visit Papua to see the facts firsthand did not satisfy the crowd. Shortly after, Nusron and Sudaryono stood up and headed towards the UGM roundabout. Students tried to block them using water barriers, leading to pushing and shoving, but the officials managed to break through. A chase ensued before Nusron and Sudaryono were successfully evacuated in a patrol car. Students then shouted, ‘Budiman, who was once imprisoned and joined demonstrations, has fled. Budiman is a traitor, a coward.’