Why Did the Discussion with Prabowo's Ministers at UGM Turn Chaotic?

The chaos at the “Kopdar Bareng Mas Dar” discussion forum at the Innovation and Creativity Centre (GIK) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Monday evening, 15 June 2026, was triggered by student dissatisfaction with the answers provided by President Prabowo Subianto’s aides. The responses were deemed to have failed to address current issues, particularly concerning Pancasila as the unifying ideology of the Indonesian nation.

The event, organised by Total Politik, featured Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency Nusron Wahid, Head of the Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency Budiman Sudjatmiko, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono. The UGM Student Union Alliance questioned the relevance of the topic amidst the chaotic state of the country under the leadership of Prabowo-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

“Our regime is blind to the many policies that never touch the root of the problem. The Free Nutritious Meals programme (MBG) drains the state budget, and the red-and-white village cooperatives are useless. Who is the regime actually serving, the ideals of Pancasila or the ambition to rule?” the alliance stated in a written statement on the UGM Student Union Instagram account, quoted on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.

The student union highlighted the growing public movement taking to the streets to demand government accountability for improving economic conditions, while officials flaunt the waste of state funds on overseas trips with unclear benefits.

“It is nonsense to talk about Pancasila when the government itself denies the values of Pancasila,” the students declared.

The UGM Student Union Alliance asserted that their protest was an effort to ensure the practice of Pancasila values does not merely serve as a sweetener in public agendas. Students demanded concrete proof of the realisation of social justice, humanitarian values, and popular sovereignty from the government.

The atmosphere of the academic forum, which initially proceeded smoothly and was attended by students, began to heat up after the speakers finished presenting their material around 8.30 p.m. local time. During that session, Budiman Sudjatmiko invited participants to deliver criticism directly within the discussion room, rather than on social media.

“Please criticise us here, not on social media,” Budiman said.

The situation escalated when several students launched sharp criticisms regarding the suitability of the three officials to discuss the theme of Pancasila amidst a pile of unresolved national problems.

A fierce debate erupted until dozens of students rushed onto the stage to unfurl protest banners reading ‘UGM Rejects Reform Traitors’ and ‘UGM Rejects Regime Sycophants’.

The situation inside the building became increasingly uncontrollable when the crowd threw mineral water glasses at the speakers in the forum area, forcing the discussion to be halted immediately. To prevent further escalation, the organisers and security personnel evacuated the three state officials from the Joglo GIK UGM.

However, the evacuation effort was immediately hampered by hundreds of students who had surrounded the outside of the building and blocked the speakers’ vehicles. The emotional crowd continued to shout demands for the speakers to return and engage in an open dialogue. The crowd yelled, “Where is Budiman? He said he wanted to discuss!”

Responding to the pressure, Nusron Wahid and Sudaryono eventually came out to meet the students to continue the dialogue in front of the event venue. Meanwhile, Budiman Sudjatmiko was no longer visible, having allegedly slipped away through the back door of the building.

During the open dialogue, a student questioned Nusron about his responsibility as Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency regarding the policy of converting hundreds of thousands of hectares of land in Papua, which was deemed to have displaced local indigenous communities.

The students’ disappointment peaked when Nusron responded to the question by inviting them to go directly to Papua and see the facts on the ground. The answer was considered to have not touched the substance of the problem. Just a few minutes later, Nusron and Sudaryono chose to rise from their seats and walk towards the UGM Roundabout and the south campus gate.

Students, feeling avoided, immediately tried to block the group’s movement using water barriers, triggering a fierce shoving and chasing action in the area.

Budiman’s escape without meeting the crowd left the students disappointed. “Budiman, who once participated in demonstrations, actually ran away. What a traitor, a coward,” the crowd shouted.

The UGM Student Union Alliance stated that the incident was a stern warning to the Prabowo-Gibran administration, which they consider chronically ill and in need of a revolution. They questioned three things.

First, how can the nation be united if the voices of the people who criticise are ignored and considered a nuisance? Second, where are the values of Pancasila when agrarian conflicts are left unresolved without transparency, and the people are forced to tighten their belts for the elite’s wastefulness? Third, what is the Red and White Cabinet actually trying to achieve, the ideals of Pancasila or Prabowo’s ambitions?

“If the government continues to seize justice and let the people’s stomachs go hungry, do not blame the public if this patience runs out. Do not be surprised if in the near future revolution becomes the only way out,” the UGM Student Union concluded in its statement.