Michelle Gabriela, S. Dian Andryanto, Jakarta – Gajah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Board Community of Students (BEM KM) Chairperson Tiyo Ardianto says that they have resigned from the Populist All Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM SI Kerakyatan) Alliance.
"We want to maintain the independence of the movement", Ardianto said when contacted by Tempo on Monday July 21.
Earlier on Sunday, July 20, the BEM KM UGM official Instagram account @bemkm_ugm issued a statement of resignation from the BEM SI Kerakyatan Alliance following its XVIII National Conference at the Dharma Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, on July 13-19.
"The presence of people who are symbols of power, such as the general chairperson of the Perindo Party, the Minister of Youth and Sports, the deputy governor of West Sumatra, and the Kapolda [Regional Police Chief] along with the head of the West Sumatra Regional BIN [State Intelligence Agency] – for us, injured the independence of the movement. Especially with them showing off their closeness to the students on their social media [accounts]. Perhaps they entered the forum and were genuinely invited, or because there was an entrance ticket that they had obtained?", wrote the BEM KM UGM on its official Instagram account.
According to Ardianto, the conference showed the position of BEM SI as not being independent. "BEM SI is not independent and full of intrigue and interests. BEM KM UGM as one of BEM SI's initiators in 2007 felt the need to take a firm stand", said Ardianto.
Looking at the many interventions carried out by the state apparatus in the student movement, Ardianto stated that BEM KM UGM is committed to remaining with the ordinary people of Indonesia. "The BEM KM UGM is not for sale, we convey this publicly as a commitment. No one can buy or intervene in BEM KM UGM. We are driven by a conscience for the people of Indonesia", he asserted.
Ardianto also stated that after leaving BEM SI, BEM KM UGM will continue to be active. "We, with or without BEM SI, will always be active. We will still build communication across campuses with an independent spirit", said Ardianto.
Furthermore, for Ardianto, the student movement should merge with the ordinary people, without commands that have the potential to coopt the movement, and without pride in the name of an institution or campus.
BEM UGM's position has been followed by the Diponegoro University (Undip) BEM in Semarang, Central Java. BEM Undip said they left the BEM SI Kerakyatan because of the presence of politicians, regional officials, police and officials from BIN at the National Conference in Padang
BEM Undip Chairperson Aufa Atha Ariq said the presence of officials and congratulations in the form of a flower bouquet from the West Sumatra regional BIN was inappropriate in the midst of protests and demonstrating students who suffered repression by the state apparatus in various regions.
"It is inappropriate. It should be discussing an escalation of the student movement and focusing on joint solidarity", Ariq said when contacted on Sunday.
– Shinta Maharani contributed to writing this article
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "BEM UGM Keluar dari BEM SI, Ketua BEM KM UGM: Kami Ingin Jaga Independensi Gerakan".]