Kiki Safitri, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) Student Community Association (IKM UI) has explicitly rejected all forms of degradation and commercialisation of the student movement. This position was asserted in the results of the 6th UI Student Congress plenary meeting that was held on Wednesday April 23.
In an official statement, the IKM UI rejected all forms of intervention, including from military parties, as well as condemning systematic efforts which are considered to have the potential to divide the solidarity of the student movement.
"The student movement is a moral movement that is independent. It cannot be allowed to be controlled by political, economic interests, or any kind of external party", read the IKM UI statement on Friday April 25.
The IKM UI also emphasized that the commercialisation of the student struggle agenda or other forms of transactions that devalue the struggle are violations of the basic principles of student affairs.
One of the important points in the results coming out the plenary session was the condemnation of alleged military intervention on campus, especially by district level military commands (Kodim).
The session noted that there have been irresponsible claims by the military, which is trying to build a false sense of closeness with the students.
It was said that an UI National Student Consolidation (Konsolnas) flyer was distributed at a Kodim without an official invitation and used as a tool to legitimise the TNI (Indonesian Military) as if it was part of the student movement.
"Any affiliation with the military, no matter how small, will become a weapon to kill the student movement. They want to portray themselves as 'friends of students', when in fact their ultimate goal is to co-opt our struggle", continued the IKM UI representatives.
The IKM UI also revealed an alleged violation of procedures by intelligence officers who tried to enter the location of a national consolidation without an official permit. This action was considered a form of arrogance and a violation of academic freedom.
In response to the involvement of rogue student figures such as Muhammad Faridz Adrian (the head of the UI faculty of administrative science Student Executive Council) who was said to have distributed flyers to the military without the approval of the Chief Executive Meeting (CEM), the IKM UI submitted several demands.
This included rejecting any form of affiliation with the military, intelligence or political forces, and ensuring that coordination only involves structurally legitimate parties.
"Then, as a form of strict restrictions between military institutions and the student movement based on civil value,", said the official statement.
"Then, demanding that the TNI to stop all forms of provocation and the spread of false narratives related to the student movement", said the official statement from IKM UI.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "IKM UI Desak TNI Hentikan Intervensi dan Provokasi Gerakan Mahasiswa".]
