What Was Discussed Between Students and Gibran During Mediation?

The Student Executive Board (BEM) of Universitas Bung Karno has accepted an offer for mediation presented by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in response to the ‘Tata Ulang Indonesia’ demonstrations held at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, on 15 June 2026.

Muhammad Abdi Maludin, Chairman of the BEM Faculty of Law at UBK and a representative in the mediation which lasted approximately 60 minutes, stated that various issues were intensively discussed with the former Mayor of Solo. “The Vice President noted our points of demand, which include the evaluation and improvement of all irregularities currently in the country, such as the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme and the Red and White Village Cooperatives,” said Abdi following the closed mediation at the Vice Presidential Palace, Central Jakarta, on Monday night.

During the meeting, BEM UBK and its alliance submitted a memorandum containing studies and student demands. The first point concerns the fiscal and education cluster, demanding a moratorium and a transparent audit of the MBG project. Secondly, the memorandum includes an urgent call to reallocate the MBG budget towards tuition fee (UKT) subsidies or higher education operational costs to achieve progressive free education.

The third point of the memorandum addresses the legal and civil supremacy cluster. Students are demanding that local governments send official recommendations to the House of Representatives (DPR) to conduct a legislative review of the newly passed Police Law.

Furthermore, regarding the monetary and energy cluster, students are urging central authorities to intervene to maintain the stability of the Rupiah and to cancel the policy of increasing non-subsidised fuel prices, citing the potential destruction of public purchasing power.

Abdi emphasised that BEM UBK has also set a deadline for Gibran to realise all points of demand contained in the memorandum. The deadline takes effect following the meeting. “We have set a maximum deadline of 5x24 hours to fulfil all demands,” said Abdi. He also ensured that BEM UBK would not cease protesting even though the demands have been presented directly to the government, stating, “Successive waves of demonstrations will continue.”

Separately, the Special Staff to the Vice President, Nico Harjanto, stated that during the mediation, Gibran did not reach any agreements with the students. “There was no agreement, including regarding the 5x24 hour deadline. The Vice President only listened,” said Nico at the Vice Presidential Palace.

He claimed that during the meeting, Gibran responded intensely to the discussions with students, particularly regarding the implementation of the MBG project, which is considered highly necessary in the 3T regions (frontier, outermost, and least developed). “The students demand an evaluation, and that will certainly be evaluated continuously. However, this is a government programme that is much needed by our brothers in the 3T regions,” he said.

Based on observations at the Vice Presidential Palace, approximately 15 student representatives attended the invitation from Gibran. They entered the Vice Presidential Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan at around 5:25 PM WIB and exited at 6:30 PM WIB.