State Secretary Prasetyo: Government Will Study Students' Demands

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi met with a crowd of students demonstrating in the area of the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jakarta, on Thursday evening (20/2/2025). Prasetyo stated that the government is open-handedly willing to accept and study the students' demands.

As evening approached, Prasetyo Hadi arrived at the student demonstration site at the Horse Statue. In addition to Prasetyo, they were also accompanied by Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro and Bambang Eko.

"We three, with the permission and blessing of the President, have indeed been assigned to meet with all of you," said Prasetyo to the students.

When we were university students, at the same age as you, we continuously strived to be critical of government policies. Therefore, when your coordinator conveyed the desire to communicate and be received by the palace, I personally immediately expressed my willingness to comply.

He also stated that they are proud of what was conveyed by the students. This is because students should indeed have the attitude demonstrated during the protest.

"We, all of us here at the front, were once like you. When we were university students, at your age, we continuously strived to be critical of government policies. Therefore, when your coordinator conveyed the desire to communicate and to be received by the Palace, I personally immediately expressed my willingness," said Prasetyo.

Prasetyo said that what students are fighting for is part of what the government has been fighting for. Because, when they are in politics, they want to fight for many things that students are fighting for. "The government will accept this demand with open arms and study it," he said.

The government offers that student representatives have a dialogue, constructive discussion, and provide input on the points that are demanded and less appropriate. The government is open to fixing together because the Indonesian nation is in one boat together.

If students want quality education, they also want good quality education. Currently, the government is also fighting for decent and affordable education.

"Let's monitor it together. Now, my job, no need to call me a minister. It's your brother, your older brother, your younger brother. Let's sit together, everything can be discussed, everything can be discussed. You have channels, channels to convey directly," said Prasetyo.

He also appealed to the police to secure the demonstration in a humane and familial manner. Because, demonstrations are something that is legitimate and protected by the constitution.

"I also ask the officers to be familial. These are all our younger brothers and sisters, this is the future of the nation. And, the future is on your shoulders. You will be the ones who will continue what we are fighting for. I will immediately sign the paper of demands. And, I invite representatives, younger brothers and sisters to communicate," said Prasetyo.

Finally, Prasetyo advised students as the younger generation to continue to be critical, but also to be observant. Students must remain vigilant and must not engage in activities that harm society. Because it was getting dark, he also appealed to students to return to their respective homes.

Students are expected to prepare themselves, study, gain knowledge, but must remain critical. Students must continue to study. However, studying alone is not enough. Students may learn to be critical but must not damage public facilities. He also appealed to students to clean up public facilities together after the demonstration.

"With this, I declare what all of you are demanding, the government will accept and will study and we will continue to communicate. Agreed? Okay, I will sign after that we sing the blood of struggle," said Prasetyo.

Meanwhile, the Field Coordinator (Korlap) of the student demonstration Harianto said that what Minister Prasetyo Hadi had said had been documented by the students. The students also agreed to give an ultimatum to the Palace for 2 x 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a number of demands from the Student Executive Board Alliance (BEM SI) with the title Dark Indonesia include a review of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 because the policy is considered problematic. Second, transparency of development status and people's taxes because students, youth, and the people are orderly in paying taxes, and all life is taxed, but there is no transparency.

Third, students also hope that the free nutritious meal program will be evaluated on a large scale. Fourth, they reject the problematic revision of the Mineral and Coal Law, reject the dual function of the TNI, and urge the president to issue a government regulation in lieu of law (perppu) on asset seizure.

Students also have hopes for Prabowo who said in the world forum that Indonesia is gripped by corruption. In this action, students provide a concrete solution so that the president issues a Perppu. Because, Perppu is the same as a law policy to eradicate corruption in Indonesia.

Students also urged the government to improve the quality of education and health nationally, reject impunity, resolve serious human rights violations, and reject Jokowi's interference in President Prabowo's administration.