Students Protest in Surabaya, Demand Halt to Meal Program and Revocation of Laws

Students from various Surabaya campuses converged on Jalan Gubernur Suryo, staging a protest in front of the Grahadi Building to voice their opposition to several government policies. Carrying banners and posters, the demonstrators engaged in passionate oratory, criticizing what they described as a deteriorating democratic landscape in Indonesia.

Central to their protest were demands to cease the "Free Nutritious Meal" program and the "Red and White Village Cooperative," initiatives they deem ineffective and burdensome to the state budget. Additionally, the students called for the revocation of the Police Law and the TNI Law, asserting that these laws undermine democratic principles. One orator sharply criticized the current government, stating, "Today we see the government increasingly eroding democracy; our military is not guarding the borders but is instead managing MBG. Indonesia is gravely ill."

The protest led to the complete closure of Jalan Yus Sudarso, with traffic being rerouted. Barbed wire fences were erected around the Grahadi Building's gates, and a significant police presence was observed inside the premises. The students presented a list of 16 demands, with the aforementioned programs and laws being their primary focus.

Beyond these core issues, the protesters also demanded an acceleration in the deliberation and ratification of the Asset Confiscation Bill and the Indigenous Peoples Bill. They called for an end to militarism and a return of the military to its defense functions, adhering to the principle of civilian supremacy. The students further urged the state and its apparatus to halt all repressive actions against civilians and unconditionally release all political prisoners. They also called for guarantees of welfare for educators, administrative staff, and healthcare workers, and demanded an end to all forms of repression against the press, advocating for press freedom as a pillar of democracy.