UGM Republic Conference Agrees on Three People's Demands

YOGYAKARTA - The Republic Conference held at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has agreed on three demands: restore civil society’s sovereignty, establish a new republic structure to restore public trust, and unite all civil forces. Forum delegates have mandated Sudirman Said, as Committee Chairman, and Yanuar Nugroho, as General Secretary, to continue the process with an urgent working meeting. Sudirman described the mandate as a momentum to return to the paradigm of civil society as a key pillar of the state. Consequently, civil society must stand on equal footing with other state pillars. He noted that traditionally, in the name of independence, civil society tends to feel uncomfortable engaging with political parties as if it were undignified, even though decisions are made precisely there. ‘It is time for us to embrace a new paradigm with greater confidence,’ Sudirman said in Jakarta on Saturday, 31 May 2026. He explained that the true role of civil society is to build bridges and engage with all elements, including politicians, military, and police, so that state decisions are based on data and evidence. Yanuar Nugroho stressed that the forum is not a mere talk session. When asked if the Republic Conference is a political movement, his answer was firm. ‘This is not a practical political movement or an electoral agenda. It is a space for exchanging ideas starting from Yogyakarta and must expand to various cities and communities,’ he said. According to Yanuar, what unites them is not structure, but shared concerns. ‘This is not the anxiety of a few activists. It is the collective anxiety of civil society spread across various regions,’ he added.