Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Executive Board of the All-Indonesian Student Association (BEM SI) has announced plans for a nationwide demonstration. Muzammil Ihsan, the Central Coordinator of BEM SI, stated that this action is a response to numerous government policies perceived as unfavorable to the people.
"Therefore, it's time for us to initiate a movement to monitor and push for the cancellation of policies that are not pro-people," he explained when contacted on Monday, July 21, 2025.
Ihsan highlighted one policy under scrutiny: the outcome of negotiations between Indonesia and the United States, which BEM SI considers detrimental to the nation. Additionally, he noted that the demonstration aims to express student support for the #JusticeForTomLembong hashtag.
This hashtag has been abuzz on social media as a public reaction to the verdict against former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, widely known as Tom Lembong. He was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for corruption related to sugar import activities during the 2015-2016 period.
According to information from the @bemsi.official social media account, the demonstration, titled "Indonesia (C)emas," will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will involve simultaneous rallies across various regions of Indonesia, with students delivering speeches at their respective government offices from July 25 to July 27, 2025. The second phase will be a centralized nationwide protest held in Jakarta on Monday, July 28, 2025.
Key demands to be raised during the protests include issues related to the Revision of the Criminal Procedure Law, the 19 percent vs. 0 percent cooperation decision between America and Indonesia, #JusticeForTomLembong, and the issue of historical distortion.
Furthermore, the alliance will voice concerns over the Asset Seizure Bill and indigenous communities. They will also criticize various policies in the mineral and coal sectors, reject the establishment of a battalion in Aceh and military justice at the University of Riau, and reiterate the Constitutional Court's decision regarding state officials not holding dual positions.