"Dark Indonesia" Action in South Kalimantan, Students Reject Policies That Are Not Pro-People

BANJARMASIN, KOMPAS – The South Kalimantan student alliance held the "Dark Indonesia" protest in Banjarmasin on Monday afternoon (17/2/2025). In the protest, the students rejected several government policies that are not pro-people, particularly those related to budget efficiency.

Hundreds of students from various universities in South Kalimantan came to the South Kalimantan Provincial DPRD Building at around 15:00 WITA. They held a long march from Taman Siring 0 Kilometer Banjarmasin to the South Kalimantan Provincial DPRD Building, which is approximately 1 km away.

In front of the South Kalimantan Provincial DPRD Building, students unfurled banners with various aspirations, such as "Beware of Dark Indonesia 2025," "Education Emergency," and "Tut Wuri Efficiency." They also held an open forum. One by one, the students took turns giving speeches criticizing government policies.

"We do not want the father to be laid off, the mother to queue for gas, the older sibling unable to continue college, and the younger sibling only able to have free lunch," said Ady Jayadi, Chairman of the Student Executive Board of Lambung Mangkurat University during his speech.

Ady also highlighted the narrative or vision of Golden Indonesia 2045 that is often echoed by the government. This vision is considered mere rhetoric because the education sector is not a current priority for the government.

"Indonesia gold has now become Indonesia anxious," he said.

According to Ady, the policies made by the government recently seem reckless. After the emergence of reckless policies, suddenly a leader appears with the narrative of being a savior and becomes a hero to cancel those policies.

"We, the South Kalimantan student alliance, condemn all policies that are reckless," he said.

In this action, South Kalimantan students rejected several government policies that are not pro-people, especially regarding budget efficiency. In addition, they also opposed the revision of the Mineral and Coal Mining Law related to mining concessions for universities, and urged the enactment of the Asset Seizure Law.

"This action is also to make the public aware that nothing can be normalized from the government's reckless policies," said Ady.

The Head of the Student Executive Board of Antasari State Islamic University, Abdurrahman, said that the action entitled Dark Indonesia was held simultaneously in various regions of Indonesia to highlight the various polemics caused by the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka regime during the 100 working days.

"BEM throughout Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote Island moved simultaneously. From us, there are nine demands that we conveyed to the South Kalimantan DPRD. We ask that the demands be conveyed to the central government," he said.

Students who held a demonstration in front of the South Kalimantan Provincial DPRD Building were met by two members of the South Kalimantan DPRD, namely Dirham Zain, member of Commission I of the South Kalimantan DPRD from the National Awakening Party and Bambang Yanto Permono, Secretary of Commission IV of the South Kalimantan DPRD from the Democratic Party.

Bambang said that the nine demands of the students will be conveyed to the Chairman of the South Kalimantan DPRD, Supian HK. "Coincidentally, on Wednesday (19/2), the Chairman of the DPRD will attend a meeting of DPRD leaders throughout Indonesia in Jakarta. We will convey the demands of the students there and we will try our best," he said.

According to Dirham, the Chairman of the South Kalimantan DPRD could not meet the students in this action because he was sick. However, he ensured that the aspirations and demands of the South Kalimantan students would be accommodated and followed up.

"Responding to the budget efficiency policy, we think the central government has good intentions. As part of the regional apparatus, we must follow the rules. However, we will continue to convey the aspirations of students," he said.