By : Naomi Leah Christine )*
The wave of demonstrations that have turned violent in recent weeks has drawn strong criticism from university students, schoolchildren, and youth. The Indonesian People’s Solidarity Alliance (ASRI) and the National Coalition of Indonesian Women (KNPRI) emphasized that demonstrations are a constitutional right of every citizen, but must be conducted peacefully, orderly, and with dignity. They reject all forms of provocation or anarchic acts that would damage the image of the people’s struggle.
The ASRI and KNPRI alliances, consisting of school, university, and youth, chose a peaceful path to express their aspirations without any violence. They urged the government to respond as quickly as possible to all the people’s demands, quickly, precisely, and concretely, not merely as mere rhetoric.
ASRI and KNPRI Coordinator Fikri stated that riots would only harm the wider community and undermine the spirit of democracy. Anarchic acts such as vandalism, destruction of public facilities, or attempts to incite conflict between the public and security forces are unacceptable.
He believes that President Prabowo Subianto, as the holder of the people’s mandate, must also take concrete steps immediately to ensure the situation returns to stability. He expressed strong confidence that the President is capable of maintaining the nation’s security, safety, and well-being through responsive and solution-oriented policies.
Fikri emphasized that freedom of expression must remain guaranteed by the constitution, without criminalization or silencing of critical voices. Furthermore, law enforcement must be transparent and fair, including investigating the intellectual actors behind the riots. In his view, state officials are obligated to carry out their mandates with full accountability.
A similar stance emerged from students from the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), members of the Student Executive Board (BEM KM IPB). They held a symbolic demonstration to affirm their strong rejection of all forms of provocation that could divide the nation.
The Student Executive Board (BEM KM) President of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), M. Afif Fahreza, expressed deep concern over the nation’s condition, which is marred by violence and unrest. He believes that both repressive and anarchic actions are equally dangerous, worsening the situation. IPB students called on the government to adopt a humanistic, persuasive, and professional approach, as every citizen’s life is a constitutional mandate that must be protected.
Afif emphasized that all elements of the nation must exercise restraint, reject provocation, and maintain a peaceful atmosphere. He stated that safeguarding the republic is not only the government’s responsibility but also a mandate for future generations. He also urged the public to remain critical, vigilant, and civilized in expressing their aspirations.
According to him, the people’s aspirations will be more meaningful if based on data and facts, not merely emotions or misleading information. The Bogor Agricultural University Student Executive Board (BEM KM) also demanded that the government, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), and law enforcement officials be more empathetic in responding to the people’s voices by prioritizing dialogue and deliberation. In his statement, he emphasized that every policy must side with the people’s interests, uphold justice, and provide space for public transparency.
Therefore, students are required to take constructive steps, avoid provocation, and respond wisely to the flow of information. Afif concluded the declaration with an optimistic call for the nation to face the future with a critical intellectual spirit, a strong national stance, and real contributions from the younger generation.
Support for the peaceful demonstration also came from religious leaders. Marsudi Syuhud, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), reminded that the right to express opinions in public is guaranteed by the constitution, but that this right must be exercised responsibly.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining public order, security, and protecting public property. For Marsudi, upholding the honor of all parties is a key principle, including the people, the authorities, and the nation’s leaders.
Marsudi urged that all demonstrations maintain collective respect. The people, as voices of voice, the authorities as security guards, and political leaders as decision-makers, must all be respected. By upholding collective respect, social stability can be maintained without sacrificing freedom of expression.
Upon closer examination, the statements of Fikri, Afif, and Marsudi illustrate a common thread: democracy will only function healthily if the expression of opinion is conducted peacefully, without provocation, and without undermining national unity. They agree that political provocation exploiting demonstrations must be firmly rejected, as it has the potential to divide the nation.
The actions of these students, youth, and religious leaders represent a strong hope that the nation will not be trapped in a cycle of conflict. They reject destructive provocations and call for a peaceful path as a form of moral and intellectual responsibility. The main message emphasized is the importance of maintaining national unity, strengthening dialogue, and ensuring that every government policy is in the interests of the people.
The movement to reject provocations that threaten national unity demonstrates that Indonesian democracy still has strong moral underpinnings. Students emerge as agents of change, youth mobilize as the vanguard of unity, and religious leaders act as guardians of public moral values. The harmony of voices from these diverse elements is a strong signal that the nation will only be strong if freedom is exercised peacefully and with dignity.
)* Contributor to the Inti Nesia Media Institute
