Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Students from various universities across Indonesia, united under the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI), have launched a series of protests titled ‘Indonesia Gelap’ (‘Dark Indonesia’).
The demonstrations, running from Monday, February 17, to Thursday, February 20, are being held in multiple cities nationwide, with students voicing 13 key demands against government policies they deem detrimental to the public.
The protest movement, organized by BEM SI, aims to highlight concerns over controversial policies implemented under President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. BEM SI has issued an official instruction urging regional student unions to participate in both local and national demonstrations.
According to Tirto, the ‘Indonesia Gelap’ protests have taken place in major cities, including Jakarta, Bogor, Bandung, Lampung, Surabaya, Malang, Samarinda, Banjarmasin, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Aceh, Bali, Papua, Pontianak, Makassar, Riau, Jambi, Yogyakarta, and Semarang. Student leaders have warned that demonstrations will continue if their demands are not met.
#IndonesiaGelap
Before the demonstrations began, the movement ‘Indonesia Gelap’ had already been trending on social media, serving as a hashtag for public grievances and criticism of the government’s policies. The hashtag #IndonesiaGelap has been used by many online users to voiced their concerns over deteriorating social, political, and economic conditions under President Prabowo’s administration.
#IndonesiaGelap has gained traction on social media recently, reflecting public anxiety, protests, and criticism over various emerging issues. The hashtag follows the earlier viral movement #PeringatanDarurat (‘Emergency Warning’), which was widely used to call for public vigilance during the 2024 regional elections (Pilkada).
The 13 Key Demands
The ‘Indonesia Gelap’ movement is driven by 13 demands, which students presented during a demonstration at the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on Monday, February 17. According to VoI, the demands include:
- Implement free, scientific, and democratic education while reversing planned budget cuts in the education sector.
- Repeal the National Strategic Projects (PSN) policy, which students argue facilitates land seizures and undermines genuine agrarian reform.
- Reject the revision of the Mining Law (Minerba Law), which they claim suppresses academic freedom and stifles critical discourse.
- End the military’s involvement in civilian affairs, citing risks of repression and threats to democracy.
- Pass the Indigenous Peoples Bill to ensure legal protection for indigenous communities and their land rights.
- Revoke Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2025, which students view as a threat to essential public services such as education and healthcare.
- Conduct a thorough review of the government’s free meal program to ensure its effectiveness and prevent it from becoming a political tool.
- Allocate sufficient funding for university faculty salaries to enhance the quality of higher education and protect academic workers’ rights.
- Issue an emergency government regulation (Perppu) to address asset seizures related to corruption cases and economic crimes.
- Reject revisions to the laws governing the military (TNI), police (Polri), and attorney general’s office, which they argue could lead to greater impunity among security forces.
- Restructure the cabinet to improve efficiency and remove irresponsible officials.
- Oppose changes to the parliamentary code of conduct, which critics say could enable unchecked legislative power.
- Implement comprehensive police reforms to eliminate repressive practices and improve professionalism within law enforcement.
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Protests Peak
BEM SI has announced that the peak of the ‘Indonesia Gelap’ demonstrations will take place in Jakarta on Thursday, February 20.
“As stated in our official instructions, a central protest will be held in Jakarta on Thursday to follow up on our previous demonstrations and demand responses from the government,” said BEM SI Coordinator Herianto on Tuesday, February 18, as reported by Detik.
BEM SI have vowed to continue mobilizing across the country if their demands remain unmet. The nationwide protests are seen as a direct challenge to President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, with students demanding concrete actions to address their concerns.
(Raidi/Agung)
