TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Alliance of the Executive Board of the All-Indonesia Students or BEM SI along with the Civil Society Coalition have consolidated in preparation for the demonstration scheduled for today, Monday, February 17. The action entitled Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) arises from the public's concern about the performance of the cabinet of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
"Indonesia Gelap is a form of critical stance, a firm position to evaluate and criticize the performance of the Merah Putih (Red and White) Cabinet," said a participant in the consolidation at the YLBHI office in Jakarta on Sunday night, February 16, 2025.
The student alliance and civil society coalition believe that the government's performance needs to be criticized. After the first 100 days of the government, the policies made are considered to further oppress the people of Indonesia, making the people suffer.
"We call on all youth, students, and all elements of civil society throughout Indonesia to take to the streets and continue to voice the rights of the citizens," said the civil society coalition.
Based on information from the @bemsi.official social media account, today's actions are planned to be held simultaneously in various regions of Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bandung, Lampung, Surabaya, Malang, Samarinda, Banjarmasin, Aceh, and Bali. They will hold speeches at the respective government offices in each city today.
BEM SI and the Civil Society Coalition's demonstration in several other areas are planned to be held on February 18 or 19. Specifically in Jakarta, the action will take place around the Patung Kuda area in Central Jakarta.
Some of the demands to be brought in the action are the structural and technical efficiency of the Merah Putih Cabinet; urging Prabowo to issue a decree on asset confiscation; rejecting the revision of the Indonesian Military (TNI), Police, and Prosecutor Law; a total evaluation of the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals; the creation of free education; rejecting the revision of the Minerba Law; the elimination of military dual function in the civil sector; and police reform.
One of the student organizations that will take to the streets today is the University of Indonesia (UI) Student Executive Board (BEM UI). They express their rejection of the efficiency or budget cuts of ministries and institutions carried out by President Prabowo Subianto.
According to the Chair of BEM UI, Iqbal Chiesa, such policies further worsen the people's condition. "We, the UI students, are concerned about the state of the nation lately, there are too many policies formed in a reckless manner, and too much suffering continuously felt by the people of Indonesia," said Iqbal in his statement video uploaded on BEM UI's official Instagram page on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
BEM UI demands Prabowo to immediately revoke Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025, which is considered not in favor of the people. In addition, BEM UI states several other demands. These demands include canceling the discourse of granting mining management permits to campuses, and urging the disbursement of lecturers' pensions as soon as possible.
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