Jakarta – Trisakti University Student President Dino Ardiansyah is urging President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to annul the recently revised Corruption Eradication Commission Law (UU KPK).
Ardiansyah says that students will give Widodo until October 14 to issue the Perppu. If he does not issue the Perppu by then, then the students will again take to the streets in even larger numbers than before.
“We hope that Pak [Mr] Jokowi will consider issuing a statement on issuing a Perppu KPK”, said Ardiansyah after meeting with Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday October 3.
Ardiansyah said that he and several other students from various different universities met with Moeldoko to convey seven demands on the full realisation of reformasi – the reform movement that began in 1998 – as well as the release of university and high school students who are still being detained and an investigation into the shooting of students from Halu Oleo University in Kendari.
In addition to this, the students also asked the government to provide space for dialogue between students and Widodo. According to Ardiansyah, Moeldoko responded to this by saying that he would convey their demands to Widodo.
Ardiansyah however said that the government had yet to confirm whether the meeting between Widodo and the students will be open to the public.
“Essentially we asked that it be open, [so that] all student organisations can attend. Although Pak Moeldoko was unable to yet provide a statement on whether it would be open or not”, he said.
Moreover, Ardiansyah dismissed the view that the student movement has become divided because he and several other students met with Moeldoko. He said that the student movement is still solid and will continue to pursue the seven demands of reformasi.
“There are several campuses, substantially they’re are the same, but different methods. We here are thinking about starting communication with the government. This not dividing our movement. We are still solid. What we want to convey is that his is just one approach”, he said.
The wave of student protests in Jakarta and other parts of the county has been intense over the last few weeks. At each action the students have taken up the theme “#Reform Corrupted” (#ReformasiDikorupsi).
They are making seven demands, namely rejecting the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP), the Draft Coal and Mining Law (RUU Minerba), the Draft Law on Land Affairs, the Draft Law on Correctional Institutions, the proposed revisions to the Labour Law and the Draft Cyber Security Bill (RUU KKS).
They are also calling for the annulment of KPK Law and the Natural Resources Law (UU SDA) – which were recently enacted by the House of Representatives (DPR) – and calling for the enactment of the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) and the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT).
Second, the student are demanding the cancellation of the new batch of KPK commissioners for 2019-2023 who were elected by the DPR. Third, rejecting the involvement of the TNI (Indonesian military) and the police in civilian posts. Fourth, an end to militarism in Papua and other parts of the country and the release of Papuan political prisoners.
Fifth, the students and civil society groups are calling for an end to the criminalisation of activists. Sixth, an end to the forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra – which are being lit by plantation companies – and the prosecution of these corporations and the cancelation of their operating licenses.
Seventh, resolving past human rights violations and trying human rights criminals, including those who occupy positions in the inner circles of power. (fra/wis)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Mahasiswa Desak Jokowi Teken Perppu KPK sebelum 14 Oktober”.]
