Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Director General of Higher Education Ministry of Education and Culture Nizam asked students not to take to the streets to reject the bill Omnibus Law Cipta Kerja and more organized academic studies.
“There is no need to take to the streets, because it is neither productive nor dangerous for students and society,” he told CNNIndonesia.com, Thursday (8/10).
According to him, holding an action in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic with a large number of people could result in the spread of the virus. Not to mention if the demonstration ended in violence and caused injuries.
As a replacement, Nizam advised students and the campus to make academic studies related to the Job Creation Law and convey criticism intellectually. Students, he said, could also apply judicial review to the Constitutional Court.
“Students are young intellectuals, their intellectual approach should be more widely used. If you take to the streets, apart from endangering yourself, the danger of covid transmission is also very potential to mix with various interests,” he said.
“Their intellectual power is not utilized. What’s the difference with those who do not have the opportunity to get higher education,” continued Nizam.
Contacted separately, Media Coordinator of the All Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM SI) Andi Khiyarullah said that there would be thousands of students taking part in the action at the State Palace this afternoon.
“Above 5,000 [mahasiswa], almost 6,000 people, “he told CNNIndonesia.com via short message.
A number of students come from public and private universities from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra and Jabodetabek. They will join the mass of workers in rejecting the Job Creation Law and echoing a vote of no confidence.
The mass of workers have begun to gather and call for rejection of the omnibus law at the Pemuda Senayan Gate, Central Jakarta since this afternoon. The Medan Merdeka Barat road to the State Palace has begun to be closed and decorated with barbed wire.
Since the Labor Creation Law was knocked down by the DPR on Monday (5/10), a series of actions by workers and students began to reverberate in several regions. They demanded that the government thwart the omnibus law which is considered to be robbing workers’ welfare and damaging the environment.
(fey / arh)
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