Makassar – Dozens of students were arrested after holding a demonstration in front of the Alauddin Makassar Islamic State University (UIN) campus in South Sulawesi (Sulsel). They were demanding the annulment of a policy which they consider restricts student activities.
The students held the demonstration by closing off Jalan Sultan Alauddin which is part of the Trans Sulawesi highway connecting the city of Makassar and Gowa Regency. The students also set fire to old tyres causing a long traffic jam.
"So it's like this, this was from 30 minutes ago, the Kapolsek [sectoral police chief] negotiated [with the student] saying don't close off the road. But instead they (the students) closed off the entire road, there were six large tires that were ready to be burnt", said the head of the Makassar Metropolitan District Police (Polrestabes) Operations Division, Assistant Superintendent Darminto on Monday August 5.
During the action, the students demanded that Alauddin UIN Chancellor Hamdan Juhannis revoke Circular Number 259 of 2024 concerning provisions on conveying aspirations. The rule basically requires that before conveying aspirations, students must first seek permission from the faculty or university authorities.
Darminto however said that the students disrupted the activities of residents traversing from Gowa regency to Makassar and in the opposite direction. Police officers therefore immediately and forcibly reopened the road blocked by the students.
"Because it disturbed public order, the residents' road from Gowa to Makassar was closed. This was up to the city limit. You can see for yourself. There was a bride and groom who are angry on account of the demonstration in front of UIN. Their guests couldn't enter the building. So we took control of the situation. Because it was disruptive", he said.
When breaking up the student action, Darminto claimed not to know the total number of students who were arrested.
"Earlier there were 30 protesters. I haven’t counted how many were arrested yet. More than ten people. Later they will be recounted. Their vehicle has been taken to Polrestabes. Later it will be checked, if it's complete it will be returned, if it's not complete it will be given a ticket", he concluded. (mir/DAL)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Puluhan Mahasiswa UIN Makassar Ditangkap Usai Demo Protes Rektor".]
