April 11 Student Demo Refuses to Postpone Election, Effective or Failed?

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

College student Cross campuses have held demonstrations in Jakarta and a number of cities in Indonesia–from the west to the east–on Monday (11/4) yesterday.

It was a series of student demonstrations in the last few days against the discourse of postponing the election, extending the term of office of the president or Joko Widodo (Jokowi) three periods, to protest the increase in fuel prices, VAT rates, scarcity of cooking oil, and others.

Especially in Jakarta last Monday (11/4), the wave of student demonstrations this time was driven by the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) alliance. They held an action in front of the parliament complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Thousands of students from various campuses seemed to be pouring out in the area urging the parliament not to be careless about the amendments to the Constitution in order to support the discourse on postponing elections until the presidential term.

The demonstration point was diverted after Jokowi announced that the general election would still be on schedule in 2024. Previously, the BEM SI mass was about to demonstrate in front of the Presidential Palace, Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Central Jakarta. However, on D-day there were also masses of people who took action around the Medan Merdeka area.

At least there were some student demands in yesterday’s demonstration. Most importantly, they asked President Jokowi to firmly reject the postponement of the 2024 election and a three-term presidential term, delay the transfer of the state capital (IKN), investigate the cooking oil mafia and lower the prices of basic commodities.

Apart from Jakarta, student demonstrations in several cities were held simultaneously. Demonstrations took place in several big cities, such as Makassar, Padang, Kendari, Bandung, Samarinda, Palembang to Ambon.

Their demands are almost the same as in Jakarta, namely rejecting the postponement of the 2024 election and the extension of the presidential term for three terms, urging a reduction in the price of basic commodities, and delaying the transfer of IKN.

Political observer at Al-Azhar University Jakarta, Ujang Komarudin, assessed that the series of student demonstrations against the extension of the presidential term could be said to have reaped positive initial results. In fact, he continued, Jokowi immediately responded to the student’s demands before the massive action yesterday was held.

“Before yesterday’s demonstration, when the issue was already big and the pressure was overwhelming and echoing, on Sunday the president took quick steps to hold a limited cabinet meeting. He issued statement“said Ujang to CNNIndonesia.comTuesday (12/4).

Ujang said the results or impacts of social movements such as demonstrations were not only seen after the action was carried out. In fact, this success could have been realized, at least the government had responded or granted the demands of the masses before the action was held.

Therefore, Ujang considered Jokowi’s statement during a limited cabinet meeting regarding Preparation for the 2024 Simultaneous General Election and Pilkada on Sunday (10/4) as an initial response to student demands.

During the meeting, Jokowi emphasized that it was clear that the general election would be held on February 14 and that the Regional Head Election would be held in November 2024.

“Especially for those who have extended their term of office, this seems to be the initial success of the student movement which has often gone unheard. Like the omnibus demonstration on the job creation law, then the KPK Bill is that people’s aspirations are not being heard,” said Ujang.

Student-Element Civilian Effective Opposition to Executive Power

On the other hand, Ujang still believes that an effective opposition to match the government’s power can only be built by students and other elements of civil society. Such as labor unions to the urban poor.

What’s more, the current opposition parties in Parliament tend to weaken and just become a political stamp. Therefore, the power of civil society opposition can be built by finding common issues or problems that they want to fight for collectively.

“Because Parliament is barren. You can’t rely on the government either. So people depend on students,” he said.

Even so, Ujang emphasized that students cannot take their own role in building a movement to fight for public rights. Students need to form broad common alliances with other civil society movements.

“Because it is possible that if you rely on students, it can be divided and divided. That’s the importance of alliances. Relying on all components of the nation to improve the nation will be even more powerful,” said the author of the book. Political Party Ideology: Between Party Interests and Little People the.

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