Why Did the Student Movement After August Protests Begin to Fade?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The massive demonstrations at the end of August 2025 left a deep scar. An online ride-hailing driver named Affan Kurniawan and several other victims were killed in clashes near the Parliament building. The wave of protests, driven by students and various community groups, was once hailed as a rallying point for the people's movement. However, it has since lost momentum.

M. Afif, Chair of the All-Indonesia Students Executive Board (BEM SI) for the Jakarta Greater Area and Banten region, rejects the idea that the student movement has lost its direction.

According to him, consolidation continues even though the protests are no longer massive on the streets. "We ensure that the movement is here with a clear direction, not just symbolic, but genuinely for the people's interests," he said when contacted on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Concerns Over Safety and Intimidation

He noted that the tragedy at the end of August caused many parties to reconsider their approach. For some students, the risk of losing lives makes taking to the streets a difficult choice. Afif acknowledged that this concern is understandable, especially after several activists, including Delpedro Marhaen and University of Riau student Khariq Anhar, were arrested following the demonstrations.

However, he stressed that intimidation will not stop the collective consciousness. "Threats may silence a few individuals, but they will never extinguish the students' movement. It is proof that our voice touches the core of the nation's problems," he stated.

In addition to repression, fragmentation has also contributed to the waning movement. After the August protests, students from different alliances began to operate independently. Now, Afif says, there are efforts to break down exclusivity and build connections across groups. "We remain connected and will continue to move for the people's sovereignty," he said.

For Afif, the movement shouldn't stop at mere rejection; it must also offer solutions. If the government fails to accept these solutions, he said, the people have the right to question who truly holds sovereignty in this country—the people or the ruling class.

Since the August tragedy, street protests have indeed decreased. The most recent student demonstration was held by the University of Indonesia's Students Executive Board (BEM UI) in front of the Parliament building on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. They urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately fulfill the 25 demands known as the 17+8 People's Demands.

BEM UI Chairman Atan Zayyid Sulthan Rahman noted that several key points have not been addressed, including the cessation of officials' salary increases, the resolution of outsourcing issues, and the discussion of the eight additional demands.

"These eight demands have not been discussed at all by the government. Some public officials even said that if all of them are met, it will be troublesome," Atan said.

Since that protest, there have been no further actions to voice the remaining demands. For M. Afif, this lack of street activity doesn't mean the movement has died out; rather, students are seeking a new form of action.

"The student movement isn't just about campuses or students; it's about the people's sovereignty," Afif said, assuring that the 17+8 demands will continue to be monitored and protected by students.

BEM SI Chair Muzammil Ihsan echoed the same sentiment, confirming that students are still consolidating their efforts. They are considering new strategies to ensure the flame of the movement doesn't die in vain. "We are still considering the next steps," he said.

The University of Padjadjaran's BEM Chair, Muhammad Rafa, stated that he and his peers are currently devising new strategies. "We are formulating the escalation of demands and focusing on campaigns in the air and on social media," he said.

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