Arya Dipa, Bandung – A forum held by university students concluded that the government failed to bring prosperity to the people.

The students claimed to have assessed the government's performance and had included in the so-called Siliwangi Declaration read out at Bandung's Indonesian Education University (UPI).

The declaration was drawn up during a working meeting of the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI) in Bandung on July 24 by 143 participants from 68 higher learning institutes. Forum delegates "gave" the government until Oct. 20 to evaluate and improve people's welfare.

Forum coordinator M. Sayyidi said the date would also mark the seventh year since President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's came to power. "If the government fails to carry out changes by Oct. 20, we can't be held responsible for an escalation of actions against the government," he threatened.

The Siliwangi Declaration states that the government failed to protect people, provide affordable education, enforce the law and eradicate corruption.

The students demanded the government resolve the Bank Century bailout scandal, trace the flow of funds in the tax corruption case of convicted tax officer Gayus Tambunan, arrest Democrat Party treasurer M. Nazaruddin and fellow fugitive Nunun Nurbaeti, as well as revoke presidential instructions and decrees governing food issues.

They said they also expected the President to guarantee food security in the country when he makes his state of the nation address on Aug. 16, and called on the government to approve the social security and insurance bill and effectively implement the regulation to allocate 20 percent of the budget to education, excluding teaching payrolls.

University of Indonesia BEM president Maman Abdurrahman said the students' criticism was not aimed at any person, but at policies.

"However, if the government continues with its failed policies, the blame could fall on leaders. So policies must be evaluated and we expect the government to respond positively to our demands," he said.

"[Yudhoyono] must get out of his comfort zone and stop dwelling on his image at the expense of sluggish and indecisive actions. That is reform," Maman added.