Back on the streets on Youth Pledge Day: Indonesia's students gear up for their next protest

What happened

On 20 October, two years after Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka took office, students protested in Jakarta under the hashtag #IndonesiaSadar. After an open speakers' forum at Tugu Proklamasi they moved to Tugu Tani, climbed the monument and hung a banner listing their demands.

Five demands are central: declare forest and land fires a national disaster and prosecute responsible companies, an economic policy against social inequality and the weak rupiah, an end to restrictions on free expression and to the militarisation of civilian life, a consistent fight against corruption, and cheaper education.

The student executive body of Universitas Indonesia is now planning a bigger action with other groups for Wednesday, Youth Pledge Day (Sumpah Pemuda). According to Jawa Pos, the exact demands are still being agreed. The reports contain no government statements on the plans.

The mood on the ground

At Tugu Tani, patriotism mixed with defiance: students sang 'Tanah Airku' (My Homeland) and chanted 'Revolusi'. IDN Times describes a symbolic action with participants from several universities.

The SaDar committee tried to show how widespread the discontent is with a survey form: 78.4 percent of respondents consider the government a failure, 83.5 percent cite deforestation and fires with their haze, and 71.1 percent high prices for basic goods. The survey is not representative, but it set the tone of the protests.

Organisers sound determined about 28 October. A vice-chair of the student body spoke of a larger action and of young people's right to a secure future.

Voices from the media