7 Demands in University Students Mass Protest Today

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Protesters joined in the Indonesian University Students Alliance (AMI) and the University of Indonesia Students Executive Body (BEM UI) are set to bring seven demands in today's mass protest scheduled to be held in front of the President's Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta.

Coordinator of the rally from BEM UI Melki Sedek Huang on Wednesday said the seven demands include rejecting any discourse that promotes an extension of Joko Widodo's presidency, demanding the reduction of staple goods prices that have recently skyrocketed, and the investigation of attacks against civilians.

"The protest will likely be held from noon at 11 or 12 in front of the Merdeka Palace, '' says Melki on Wednesday, Antaranews reported.

Meanwhile, AMI are also demanding President Jokowi to firmly address and reject the discourse of a presidential term extension, reject postponing the election, and support the 2024 general election.

President Jokowi previously instructed his subordinates to stop promoting the idea of an election postponement, but failed to directly address the discourse of a presidential term extension.

These demands are not far from previous rallies held by university students on April 11. At this rally, students also demanded the government to postpone the relocation of Indonesia's capital city.

"We will do our best to voice our concerns in a safe but loud manner, until all the demands are met," he explained.

Meanwhile, BEM UI representative Bayu Satria Utomo said the mass protest will see 100 students take to the streets alongside students from other universities.

Police have prepared a number of traffic policies ahead of the mass protest set to be held in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) and central government areas.

Read: Traffic Diverted as Students Take to the Streets in Another Mass Protest

ANTARA