Universities Protest Jokowi's Bias Towards a Presidential Candidate

05 Feb 2024, 16:55 WIB

Sivitas akademika UGM yang terdiri dari guru besar, dosen, mahasiswa dan alumni membacakan Petisi Bulaksumur di Balairung UGM, Rabu (31/1/2024), (Dok. Humas UGM)

Intinya sih...

UGM submitted the Bulaksumur petition criticizing President Jokowi's deviation from democratic principles, signed by professors, lecturers, students, and alumni.
UII released a declaration criticizing Jokowi's leadership and encourages other universities to remain neutral in the 2024 Presidential Election.
The University of Indonesia conducted "The Drums of the University of Indonesia Return" movement to protest Jokowi's biased campaigning and fight against oligarchy and nepotism.

Disclaimer: This summary was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Jakarta, IDN Times – In light of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s apparent bias towards one of the running candidates in Indonesia’s Presidential Election of 2024, several acclaimed universities in Indonesia have initiated petitions against the incumbent president as of Friday, 2nd of February 2024.

The petitions stem from public perceptions that President Jokowi is not maintaining impartiality in the presidential race.

Below is a summarized list compiled by IDN Times of the universities that have submitted petitions to President Jokowi.

1. Gadjah Mada University (UGM)

Sivitas akademika UGM yang terdiri dari guru besar, dosen, mahasiswa dan alumni membacakan Petisi Bulaksumur di Balairung UGM, Rabu (31/1/2024), (Dok. Humas UGM)

UGM submitted the Bulaksumur petition that was initiated through a campus WhatsApp group called UGM “Guyub Rukun” on Wednesday, 31st of January 2024.

This petition was submitted by members of the UGM community which consisted of professors, lecturers, students, and even alumni of the school.

The Bulaksumur petition was read as an effort to criticize President Jokowi as both an UGM alumni and a state leader who had deviating from democratic principles.

2. Indonesian Islamic University (UII)

Sivitas Akademika Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) mengeluarkan pernyataan sikap 'Kemunduran Demokrasi di Indonesia'. (IDN Times/Herlambang Jati)

Since Thursday, 1st of February 2024, UII had released a declaration entitled “The Setback of Democracy in Indonesia” which criticized President Jokowi’s leadership.

UII’s headmaster had also previously said that the campus would continue to remain neutral ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election.

Moreover, UII encourages other universities to proclaim the same thing.

3. The University of Indonesia (UI)

Sivitas akademika UI aksi di Kampus depok UI. (IDN Times/Maulana Ridhwan Riziq)

In addition to UGM and UII, The University of Indonesia conducted a similar action titled “The Drums of the University of Indonesia Return” on the UI campus premises in Depok, West Java, on Friday, 2nd February 2024.

This movement is a form of concern shared by the UI community regarding the constitution and democracy in Indonesia that are showing signs of deterioration ahead of the election.

As a university that is nicknamed “Kampus Perjuangan” (The Fighting Campus), this action serves as a protest towards Jokowi’s act of campaigning for one of the running candidates, as well as to fight oligarchy and nepotism.

4. Hasanuddin University (Unhas)

Akademisi Unhas deklarasi ingatkan Jokowi tetap di koridor demokrasi, Jumat (2/2/2024). IDN Times/Ashrawi Muin

Hasanuddin University in Makassar, South Sulawesi, also filed a similar petition on Friday, 2nd of February 2024.

Academics of Unhas declared the petition entitled “Move to Save Democracy” in front of the campus’ rectorate building.

A professor reminded President Jokowi and his cabinet to adhere to the values of Indonesia’s constitutional Pancasila and The 1945 State Constitution of Republic Indonesia.

Unhas believes that the voices of Indonesian universities have represented public concerns regarding the erosion of democracy in the 2024 elections.