The Total Politik’s Discussion Forum
The Total Politik event titled “Kopdar Bareng Mas Dar,” intended as a public discussion forum, ended in chaos after students directed mounting criticism at the speakers. Three government officials were ultimately rushed out of the venue, while the narrative that quickly gained traction afterward was that students once again preferred disruption to discussion. But this framing deserves close scrutiny. What exactly provoked such a reaction in the first place?
A new voice in student politics—or a new political instrument?
This week, the alliance made headlines after alleging that a retired three-star general, identified as Lt. Gen. (ret.) Setyo Sularso, was linked to opposition against the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. At the same time, the group expressed support for the continuation of MBG and warned against what it described as the politicization of student activism.
A convenient pause? The curious convergence of MBG narratives
The debate surrounding Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has entered a new phase. What makes it intriguing is not merely the criticism itself, but the striking convergence of narratives emerging from two seemingly different actors: Muhammadiyah and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
Why Bundaran HI, and why not
Last Friday’s student demonstration did not go according to plan due to restrictions imposed by the authorities. Officials pointed to the lack of prior notice and the choice of the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (Bundaran HI) as the venue. Yet these explanations alone may not fully account for the restrictions that followed.
Behind Closed Doors at Kertanegara
President Prabowo Subianto’s recent closed-door meeting at his private residence in Kertanegara has raised important questions about the direction of policymaking in Indonesia. The gathering brought together several influential figures in the administration, including Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Chairman of the National Economic Council Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Higher Education Minister Brian Yuliarto, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Dony Oskaria, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi.
A Tracking Device
The discovery of a tracking device on the vehicle used by former UGM Student Executive Board chairman Tiyo Ardianto should concern many regardless of their political preferences. Whether the device was installed by political opponents, private actors, or someone acting independently, the incident revives an uncomfortable question: are critics of power once again being subjected to intimidation beyond the boundaries of democratic contestation?
Students return to the streets
Thousands of police personnel had been deployed across Jakarta to secure student demonstrations centered around Bundaran HI. The immediate trigger may be a protest organized by BEM UI, but the emerging picture suggests something broader: a growing convergence of student organizations, campus groups, and local activist networks expressing concern over Indonesia’s political and economic direction.
Who will pay for PPPK promise?
The recent wave of governors appearing before the House of Representatives with a similar plea—more money to pay government contract employees (PPPK)—should serve as a warning sign for policymakers.
A new wave of demonstrations
As the government stumbles from one controversy to another, students are once again at the forefront of safeguarding democracy. They will hold a demonstration in Jakarta today, adding to the growing list of mass protests that have taken place across several regions of Indonesia over the past week. Their demands focus not only on the country’s increasingly troubling economic conditions, but also on a range of policies implemented by the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming administration.
The end of the honeymoon?
Only a few months ago, President Prabowo Subianto enjoyed one of the highest approval ratings ever recorded for a newly elected Indonesian leader. Surveys by Indikator Politik and Poltracking consistently placed public satisfaction between 72 and 80 percent.