Unair Protest Critiques Military Training That Killed Participants

Students and faculty at Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya gathered for a symbolic protest, lighting candles and laying flowers to mourn five prospective managers of Koperasi Desa dan Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDMP). The individuals died while participating in a military-style basic training (Latsarmil). The ceremony included poetry readings, theatrical performances, and speeches, with participants expressing their grief and demanding answers.

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To our siblings who have left, forgive us, because we cannot return your heartbeats.

Among the deceased were Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, Anisa Muyassaroh, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, and Nola Dya Sari. Anisa Muyassaroh was an alumna of Unair. The protesters, identifying themselves as Ksatria Airlangga, expressed deep sorrow, with one participant reciting a poem that conveyed an apology for not being able to restore the lives lost.

Shintya Iftitah, Vice President of the Unair Student Executive Board, stated that the action stemmed from the university community's distress over the tragedy. "This action today comes from the concerns of Unair friends. We, the big family of Airlangga University, of course, offer our condolences to one of our sisters, an Unair alumna herself, Mbak Anisa Muyassaroh, and perhaps four other colleagues who became victims of basic military training, prospective KDMP managers," she said.

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Eternal heaven, eternal heaven.

The protesters outlined four main demands. Firstly, they seek government transparency on the timeline and reasons behind the deaths during the training. "We demand transparency on the chronology of why this basic military training ultimately claimed five lives at once," Shintya stated. They also questioned the involvement of the Ministry of Defense in a program that should fall under the Ministry of Cooperatives, asking, "We know that the Village and Subdistrict Cooperatives are under the Ministry of Cooperatives, but why did the Ministry of Defense and the TNI get involved? What intrigue is there?"

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This action today comes from the concerns of Unair friends. We, the big family of Airlangga University, of course, offer our condolences to one of our sisters, an Unair alumna herself, Mbak Anisa Muyassaroh, and perhaps four other colleagues who became victims of basic military training, prospective KDMP managers.

Secondly, the students urged for an independent investigation separate from the Latsarmil organizing institution. Thirdly, they demanded accountability from the parties responsible for the incident. The protesters emphasized that silence from institutions only emboldens those who believe they can dictate who is allowed to work, do business, and live in the country based on their name and origin. They stressed that Serbia should be a country where individuals are valued for their actions, not their nationality.

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We demand transparency on the chronology of why this basic military training ultimately claimed five lives at once.