Papuan students from several campuses hold Dark Indonesia action in Jayapura

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Jubi Papua – February 20, 2025
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BEM students hold Dark Indonesia action at USTJ campus in Jayapura – February 20, 2025 (Jubi)
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Jayapura – Student Executive Boards (BEM) from a number of campuses in Jayapura, including the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ), the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) and the Papua Muhammadiyah University, held a "Dark Indonesia" demonstration on the grounds of the USTJ campus in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua province on Thursday February 20.

At least 50 students took part in the action. They unfurled banners and held up a number of posters while others took turns in giving speeches at the free speech forum to voice their demands and criticisms of the central government's policies.

USTJ BEM Chairperson Ezton Silak said that the action was part of the simultaneous national actions held by BEM campuses throughout Indonesia. "The hash tag that is being taken up, 'Dark Indonesia', holds the meaning that many central government programs are not in favour of the ordinary Indonesian people", he said.

The demands being conveyed, said Silak, are to revoke Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1/2025 on budget efficiency cuts, a revaluation of the free nutritional meals (MBG) program and transparency over the status of development projects.

"Several government policies have made us, students, lecturers, and the community disadvantaged. Made people have no hope in the future. This action was carried out in the hope that there will be changes made by the president from the policy [decisions] he has taken", said Silak on the sidelines of the action.

According to Silak, several programs run by the central government, such as allowing territory education institutions to hold mining business licenses, the free nutritional meal program and the budget cuts, need to be reviewed.

"A total re-evaluation of the MBG program. The free meals program must be evaluated thoroughly so that it is right on target, carried out well, and not just a political tool", he said.

BEM, continued Silak, is also demanding the enactment of the Draft Law on Asset Confiscation, rejects the TNI's (Indonesian Military) dwi-fungsi (dual socio-political function), rejects the problematic revisions to the Mineral and Coal Mining Law (UU Minerba), rejects impunity, and is asking the government to resolve cases of past gross human rights violations.

"In addition, BEMs throughout Indonesia are also asking the government to improve the quality of education and health nationally", he said.

Aside from this, Silak added that BEM is also urging the government to realise free education and cancel the cuts to the education budget.

"Education is the fundamental right of every citizen. The trimming of the education budget will only deepen the inequality of education access and worsen its quality", he said.

BEM also asked the central government to cancel problematic National Strategic Projects (PSN).

"We demand the cancellation of PSNs that do not side with the ordinary people and encourage the implementation of true agrarian reform. We also reject the revisions of the UU Minerba, because the Minerba is only tool for the regime to silence campuses and academic circles when they speak out critically [about mining]", he said.

BEM also asked the government to enact the Draft Law on Indigenous Peoples (RUU Masyarakat Adat) because indigenous peoples need clear legal protection for their land and culture.

During the action students from various campuses and student organisations in Jayapura city took turns in giving speeches in front of the masses. They highlighted various problems that are happening in communities.

"One of them is the budget efficiency [policy] that is truly detrimental to the ordinary people", said Jayapura student activist Afrizal Saleh Renyaan.

He believes the budget efficiency measures being carried out by the government have not been carefully planned so the impact has been detrimental to the public. He also highlighted the damage to customary forests in various regions. Not only does this damage the environment, forest damage is also considered to violate the rights of indigenous peoples.

"Free nutritious food, I very much agree with the president's program, but I don't agree with the budget efficiency [cuts] to education and my salary deductions, because the budget cuts or budget efficiency should be aimed at ministers or state officials", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "'Indonesia Gelap', BEM Sejumlah Kampus Demonstrasi Di Halaman USTJ".]

Source: https://jubi.id/mamta/2025/indonesia-gelap-bem-sejumlah-kampus-demonstrasi-di-halaman-ustj/

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