Yogyakarta – A large banner with the words "Most Embarrassing UGM Alumnus Nomination Submission" and a picture of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was displayed in front of the Gajah Mada University (UGM) in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Friday December 8.

The banner measuring around 4 x 3 meters, which was installed on the north side of the UGM traffic circle, attracted the attention of road users.

The full text of the banner reads, "BEM KM UGM Presents: The Most Embarrassing UGM Alumnus Nomination Submission. Mr. Joko Widodo". In the bottom corner of the banner it reads "2014-2024?" and "1980-1985".

Widodo's face meanwhile was edited with two different types of clothing on each side. On the left side he wears a suit and crown, while on the right side he wears a woven bamboo farmer's hat and an UGM almamater jacket.

UGM Student Community Student Executive Council (BEM KM) Chairperson Gielbran M Noor said that three or for such banners have been installed outside the UGM campus.

He said that the banners were installed as a form of disappointment with Widodo as an UGM alumnus who has now become the head of the government of the Republic of Indonesia.

"This is a form of our disappointment as UGM students also, that for almost two terms Pak [Mr] Jokowi has been in charge but in reality there are still many fundamental problems that have not yet been resolved. Yet, he has had quite a lot of time to resolve these problems", said Noor at the UGM traffic circle on Friday.

The problems referred to include rampant corruption. Not to mention the matter of recently suspended Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairperson Firli Bahuri who has been caught out over an alleged extortion case.

Furthermore, there is the matter of revisions to the Information and Electronic Transaction (ITE) Law, which have the potential to criminalise activists more easily.

Today, the UGM BEM KM is presenting human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti in a public discussion, which is to be held in front of UGM.

Noor said that Azhar and Maulidiyanti, who are currently being tried on charges of defamation brought by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, are appearing as both witnesses and concrete examples of victims of criminalisation under the undemocratic Widodo administration.

"Not to mention the problem of the constitution that has very much collapsed. The proving of the guilt of [former] Constitutional [Chief] Justice [Usman Anwar] at the MKMK [Constitutional Court Honorary Council] hearing is the starting point, it's the empirical evidence that the Constitutional Court is not independent. It is closely linked to the personal closeness of Jokowi and Anwar Usman's family. And this has been proven. Not to mention the democracy index which it's getting worse", he said.

"Not to mention talking about his [Widodo's] political dynasty which is vulgarly displayed before our eyes, so I think there is no other momentum than to crown him as the most embarrassing UGM alumnus," concluded Noor.  (kum/isn)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "BEM UGM Pasang Baliho Kritik Jokowi".]

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20231208164200-32-1034791/bem-ugm-pasang-baliho-kritik-jokowi