TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo sent his special staffer, Aminuddin Ma'ruf, to meet and absorb the aspirations of students from the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI) who were staging yet another protest against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation.

“Yes, I was ordered [by the President] to meet with students who were voicing their aspirations and to receive statements from the BEM SI to be passed on to Bapak President,” Aminuddin told Tempo on Friday, October 16, 2020.

According to him, the government was open to having a dialogue with all public elements. “Inshallah, I will convey the whole statement from BEM SI without reducing or adding anything to the President,” the former social activist said.

In today’s rally, BEM SI demanded President Jokowi issue a regulation in lieu of law or Perpu to revoke the Omnibus Law that was enacted by the Parliament on Monday, October 5.

The students also condemned the government for allegedly attempting to intervene in public movements and voices against the Job Creation Law and denounced various repressive actions committed by state apparatus against all protesters.

Read: President Jokowi Explains Why Job Creation Law Needed

DEWI NURITA