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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

BEM UI: Reformasi Has Died

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Students at the University of Indonesia (UI) held a symbolic protest declaring that 'Reformasi' (the reformasi era) is dead.
  • They cited unfulfilled demands and the resurgence of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN) as evidence of the decline of democratic ideals.
  • The protest involved symbolic actions like covering a monument and holding a mock funeral to signify the end of the reformasi period and a call for renewed struggle.

Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Universitas Indonesia (BEM UI), a prominent student executive body, has staged a symbolic protest declaring the death of 'Reformasi,' the era of democratic reform that began in Indonesia in 1998. This action, reported by Tempo, reflects a deep disillusionment among students with the current state of democracy and governance in the country.

We declare that the reformasi that has been fought for has now died.

· Hafidz HaernandaStating the core message of the student protest at the University of Indonesia.

The students' message, encapsulated in banners reading 'Reformasi is Dead, Prabowo is Happy' and 'Adili Prabowo dan Kroninya' (Prosecute Prabowo and his Cronies), points to a specific political context, suggesting a belief that the current leadership undermines the principles fought for during the reformasi period. The mock funeral for 'Reformasi' and the covering of the Tugu Makara monument with white cloth, later to be replaced with black, symbolize mourning for lost ideals and a perceived regression.

Coordinator Hafidz Haernanda articulated the protest's intent: to signal that the agenda of reformasi has concluded, potentially ushering in a more repressive phase akin to the New Order era. He highlighted the persistence of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN), which they claim are worse than before, and a worrying trend towards the re-centralization of power, contradicting the spirit of regional autonomy.

We see the reformasi agenda has ended.

· Hafidz HaernandaExplaining the students' assessment of the current political situation in Indonesia.

From an Indonesian perspective, this protest is a significant expression of civil society's concern over democratic backsliding. It challenges the narrative of progress and calls attention to issues that resonate deeply with those who remember the struggles of the past. The students' act is not just a critique of the present but also a call to action, reminding that the fight for democratic principles is an ongoing one, and that past struggles must serve as a foundation for future efforts. The specific targeting of political figures and the comparison to the New Order era underscore the gravity with which these students view the current political climate.

We once fought, and in the future, we can fight again.

· Hafidz HaernandaExpressing a call to action and the enduring spirit of struggle for democratic ideals.
About this summary

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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