UI Bans Republic Conference After Prabowo-Rectors' Sarasehan

The organising committee of the Republic Conference, Jaleswari Pramodhawardhani, perceives a tendency of the government to intervene in UI, leading to the sudden prohibition of the Republic Conference National Consolidation activity at the UI Salemba Campus, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. This suspicion arose because UI had previously permitted the use of the campus as the venue for the Republic Conference. “I will not speak to that. But that tendency exists (government intervention) because initially UI was very welcome,” she said at the UI Salemba Campus, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. UI had previously and suddenly banned the Republic Conference at the UI Salemba Campus, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. Jaleswari stated that UI’s reason was that the committee had not fulfilled administrative procedures. “In fact, we had already fulfilled the procedures,” she said. On Wednesday, 24 June 2026, UI granted permission for the use of campus facilities in the form of a letter of assignment. “We interpreted the letter as accepted,” she said. Three Republic Conference committee members said the change in UI leadership’s stance occurred after President Prabowo Subianto gave a briefing to rectors at an event titled ‘National Sarasehan: Strategy for Indonesia’s Economic Independence and Welfare’ at the JCC, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, 26 June 2026. During the event, Prabowo delivered a briefing for five hours. However, after speaking for 30 minutes, Prabowo’s briefing was held behind closed doors. Two Republic Conference committee members who are aware of the reason for the ban said Prabowo asked rectors to maintain campus conditions to ensure they were safe. Jaleswari assessed that the public would inevitably link this cancellation to the meeting between Prabowo and the rectors. The public would certainly think there was an order to maintain stability. “There is a restriction, there is a cancellation, like it or not, anyone would certainly think this is part of that order. In the name of stability, in the name of security, in the name of development,” she said. Another Republic Conference committee member said the UI Rector was telephoned by various parties, including the Palace, regarding this activity. They asked UI to reconsider granting permission for the activity. A member of the University of Indonesia (UI) Board of Trustees representing students, Razaan Bayu Rachman, said that UI was indeed called repeatedly by external parties. However, he did not know who these external parties were. Nor could he confirm whether the external parties requested that the activity be banned. “Specifically, they did not ask for that. But it was implicit. I suspect the external parties were uneasy because it was considered a mass consolidation and had strong political elements,” he said at the UI Salemba Campus, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. He admitted to communicating with UI Rector Heri Hermansyah before the event. He said Heri did not ban the Republic Conference activity. “The UI Rector only questioned it. Because he received many questions from outside parties,” he said. However, the UI Rector could not supervise directly, as the rector was on duty abroad. Therefore, he suspected that UI received intervention from external parties. “So I emphasise there was no intervention from the campus. But from external parties to UI,” he said. Regarding this, UI Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International Affairs Erwin Agustian Panigoro said UI was preparing a response. Meanwhile, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has not yet responded. UI had previously and suddenly banned the activity ‘Republic Conference: The Path to Reorganising the Republic’ at the UI Salemba Campus, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. The committee decided to continue holding the Republic Conference. The committee will start the discussion via Zoom at 1:00 PM WIB. General Secretary of the Republic Conference Committee, Yanuar Nugroho, said that firstly, the consolidation will discuss the foundations of the movement such as values, goals, and the direction of the Republic Conference movement. Secondly, the national consolidation will also determine the organisational form, network, and working methods. “Thirdly, it will discuss leadership. Civil networks or coordination still need those willing to work in front of and behind the scenes to ensure communication and coordination occur without monopolising,” said Yanuar. This national consolidation is a follow-up to the first Republic Conference held in Yogyakarta on 30 May 2026. The Republic Conference consolidation there was attended by hundreds of civil society organisations, activists, and academics.