UII Lecturers, Students Protest Prabowo-Gibran Government Over Economy

Lecturers joined students from Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta on Monday, June 15, 2026, to protest the Prabowo-Gibran administration. The demonstration, themed 'Towards a Bankrupt Indonesia,' saw academics, including the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, Agus Triyanta, marching alongside students.

Triyanta stated the protest was a form of student concern for the nation's fate and an effort to uphold democracy. "The campus must be able to guard and balance the running of democracy, because when a government has no balancing force, it will only move aimlessly," he said. He noted that recent protests stem from the government's perceived deviation from its path, with many public aspirations and demands being ignored.

The student leader, Muhammad Radin Nabil Akbar, head of the UII Law Faculty Student Executive Council, highlighted economic issues as the focal point of their movement. He presented six main demands, all centered on the economy and the looming threat of national bankruptcy. Akbar pointed to the rupiah's depreciation, which has driven up fuel and basic goods prices, while the government allegedly pursues wasteful programs like the free nutritious meal initiative.

"MBG ignores the aspirations of the small people, it is a form of power arrogance, and a potential deviation from the principle of people's economic sovereignty," Akbar stated. He argued the program exemplifies political elite interests, marginalizes local businesses, and lacks public participation, urging its termination.