A protest that was conducted by thousands of students and other various elements was held on Thursday (22/8), ahead of the West Java Regional Legislatives Councils (DPRD) Office, Bandung. This is in response to a situation approaching legalization of Pilkada Law (UU) Amendment by DPR RI related to Pilkada candidacy threshold of political parties and candidate age limit. This is allegedly a malicious move by Jokowi to perpetuate his interests so that his son, Kaesang Pangarep, is eligible to join as a candidate of Central Java gubernatorial election.

Students must be aware of social issues as it has a vast impact toward people’s prosperity. This was exclaimed by Revan, ITB Physics Student, who serves as ITB demonstration coordinator, he stated, ” (you) students have paid universities expensive tuition fees and the government does not really care about student’s tuition.”

“(But you) students only want to live as  slaves for the government (corporate workers), it is a huge waste of the future potential for the nation and themselves.” He witnessed the current condition of the government and students that are rather pathetic. He added, “The DPR is brainless, and the students are a coward. I really hope the resignation of the government will happen soon.”

Reported by Sumari, Head of Operational Division (Kabag Ops) who was on duty, to secure the situation and condition of the protest, they mobilized around five hundred officers to supervise the demonstration in front of the DPRD Office. This is a preventive action conducted by the constabulary in order to assure the demonstration goes on without anarchism.

The demonstration began from morning to noon with the number of protestors gradually increasing. According to Ridwan, staff of Bandung Parahyangan Paramedic, the coordination of each group began on social media. Subsequently, they gathered in Unisba, then headed off to the DPRD Office.

“Me personally, I know it from Instagram, (the routes) begin from Tugu Toga Unisba, moving to Tamansari, then stop in the intersection next to Tamansari to form a circle of people, eventually head off to here (DPRD Jabar). The agreement is to gather at ten in the morning, then we move at eleven,” said Ridwan.

Numerous people admit they felt uneasy and wrathful towards Jokowi over the issue. They, particularly students, are overwhelmed by dismays and massive skepticism. If DPR RI succeeds in annulling the new threshold that had been decided by MK, Jokowi’s political dynasty would be much more solid. This has implications on many aspects, particularly about the nepotism act that would be spreading widely in the future.

“I feel uneasy with the conditions that happened today, especially with DPR annulling MK’s decision yesterday. There’s a lot of resentment, concerns, and I wanted to take it out of those here,” said Dava, an ITENAS student.

“Surely, an eagerness comes from my heart and a growing concern for our future. DPR and the president have been scrambling around, which in my opinion, is an obligation for students to voice justice in protests such as this,” said Ojan, a FISIP Unpad student.

Crucial events in Indonesia have often occurred due to the phenomenon of demonstrations from a vast variety of backgrounds of people, especially students. Students’ role as a watcher of the government is an obligation as they are the nation’s soul and regeneration to drive the pivotal point of the nation towards prosperity. Nevertheless, not every student realizes all of this is mandatory. 

Vian, an UPI student who is protesting under Front Mahasiswa Unpad stated, “actually we have been witnessing that reformation is produced by millions of people, not just students. So, it does not feel complete if we make a segmentation for students. In my opinion, as a society we have to unite, not circlizing ourselves within certain segments. Students, laborers, the poor, we are all the society, we are all being suppressed, we must unite.”

Aira, a citizen who participated in the demonstration stated, “currently, the students are in a position not as free as previously. Tuition is increasing, we are insisted to have enough working experience as fresh graduates, which is nearly impossible.  Students don’t have much room to move around or to watch over the way of governance anymore. We are being distracted to work here and there in order to pay tuition, so that fundamentally students are forced to not have any free time to voice society (society’s issues) or to lead the government.”

Reporter: Muhammad Aziz F
Editor: Shakila Azzahra, Zulfa Salman