Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Student Executive Board of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI) revealed the reason for naming today's protest as Rapat Dengar Pendapat Warga (People's Hearing). The rally is planned to take place at the main entrance of the House of Representatives (DPR) building.

Vice Head of the Action and Propaganda Department of BEM UI 2025, Bima Surya, stated that the name is a play on the term rapat dengar pendapat umum (public hearing), which is often held by the DPR. However, according to Bima, the public hearings at the Senayan are mostly just formalities.

"And it appears to be political tokenism, therefore, we create a counterpart of public hearings by holding 'RDPW,'" said Bima when contacted on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Bima explained that today's rally is based on disappointment with all branches of power, including the executive, legislative, and judiciary, which do not side with the people's interests and do not listen to the people's aspirations. RDPW, he said, is a creative form of protest. The rally is not only filled with speeches and open podiums, but also with theatrical performances, games, and other forms of art performances.

He stated that this protest is initiated together with other elements of civil society. "From the beginning, we have been joined by 15 organizations that are part of BEM, labor unions, and other civil society organizations," said Bima. The number of participants from BEM UI is estimated to be less than 100 students.

This action is still related to the wave of massive demonstrations that took place in late August 2025. BEM UI emphasized that hundreds of protesters are still being detained by police.

"We emphasize that as long as justice is not upheld and the people's voices are still silenced, we will continue to speak out, continue to push, and continue to take to the streets to ensure that power is not exercised without responsibility to the people," said Bima in BEM UI's statement.

BEM UI declares that they will not remain silent when justice is trampled and democracy is disabled. "Because true sovereignty lies in the hands of the people, not in seats of power," he said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2054741/why-bem-ui-held-a-protest-themed-peoples-hearin