Dani Aswara, Jakarta – A coalition of university students and civil society groups voiced their opposition to Indonesia's involvement in the Board of Peace (BoP), the potential deployment of TNI troops to Gaza, and the country's trade relations with the United States during a demonstration at the National Monument on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
Shofwan Al Banna Choiruzzad, a lecturer in International Relations at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia, said the protest was grounded in Indonesia's founding principles, which reject all forms of colonialism.
"Indonesia was established as a declaration against the colonial world order, as outlined in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution, which states that colonialism must be abolished because it is incompatible with humanity and justice," Shofwan said at the demonstration.
Representatives from universities across the country, including Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Sumatera Utara, joined the protest. Civil society organizations, academics, and pro-Palestinian groups were also present.
Shofwan criticized the government's foreign policies as diverging from constitutional mandates, accusing Indonesia of aligning with the interests of global powers.
"Today, the constitutional mandate has been violated by policies that show subservience to the imperialist forces of the United States under Donald Trump and Netanyahu," he said.
The coalition issued seven demands to the government and the House of Representatives (DPR):
Review BoP Membership: The protesters urged the government and DPR to reassess Indonesia's membership in the BoP and to withdraw if the organization fails to support Palestinian independence or halts violations of international law in Gaza. "We call on the government and DPR to review Indonesia's participation in the BoP and to leave if it is proven not to support Palestinian independence," Shofwan said.
Reject TNI Deployment to Gaza under BoP Mandate: The coalition opposed sending Indonesian troops to Gaza within the BoP framework, particularly if the mission includes demilitarization, warning that it could place Indonesia in opposition to Palestinian interests.
"We reject the deployment of TNI troops to Gaza under the BoP mandate if the ISF continues demilitarization tasks, as it could make Indonesia a tool of occupation," Shofwan said.
Condemn US-Israel Military Attacks on Iran: The groups condemned the attacks as violations of international law and warned they could escalate regional conflict in the Middle East.
Evaluate Indonesia-US Trade Agreements: The coalition demanded a review of all trade agreements with the United States, which they claim are skewed and disadvantage national interests.
Prevent Indonesia from Supporting Global Imperialism: The protesters warned that BoP membership and the trade deals could drag Indonesia into global imperialist practices, urging public pressure to correct these policies.
Promote Social Justice and Economic Sovereignty: The coalition called on the government to strengthen domestic industry and economic independence to ensure the welfare of the Indonesian people.
Solidarity for Palestine: The protesters encouraged all segments of Indonesian society to build humanitarian solidarity against imperialism and in support of the Palestinian struggle."We call on all members of Indonesian society to unite in humanitarian solidarity against imperialism," Shofwan said.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2091280/indonesian-students-urge-prabowo-to-reassess-bop-participatio