Students Attack Tarakan Mayor's Office, Demand PDAM Director and Village Head of Six to be Removed

TARAKAN - Dozens of students who are members of the Tarakan City Community Alliance held a demonstration in front of the Tarakan Mayor's office, North Kalimantan (Kaltara).

In the action, the masses carried posters and banners demanding while taking turns delivering speeches in front of the mayor's office. They demanded the removal of the Director of PDAM Tirta Alam Tarakan and Lurah Kampung Enam for alleged actions that were considered to have injured the civil liberties of students.

Field Coordinator (korlap) of the action, Agung Janumat Rifai said that the demonstration was triggered by two issues that have recently become the concern of students in Tarakan.

"The first question is related to the alleged dissolution of the pig party watch party (nobar) held by the student community by the Village Head of Kampung Enam. We assess that this action is a form of restriction on the freedom of assembly and opinion," said Agung, Monday, May 25.

Then, the second issue concerns the upload on the personal social media account of the Director of PDAM Tirta Alam Tarakan who is suspected of spreading the personal data of a cadre of the Islamic Student Association (HMI).

"On this basis, we ask the Tarakan City Government to evaluate and remove the two officials who are considered to have harmed the community and students," Agung said in his speech.

"Students also asked the police to guarantee the security of discussion spaces, organizational activities, and student activities in Tarakan so that they are not intimidated," he continued.

In addition to bringing up regional issues, students also voiced national demands. They urged the central government and Komnas HAM to investigate the alleged shooting of a civilian named Nona Aliko Walia in Papua and stop the militaristic approach in the region.

"We also ask the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of North Maluku and the City Government (Pemkot) of Tarakan to evaluate the impact of the National Strategic Project (PSN) so that it does not harm the local community," he said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Mayor of Tarakan, Ibnu Saud, who received the mass action directly, said the government would follow up on all student aspirations and conduct a thorough examination.

"I also don't believe it just like that. Everyone will definitely defend themselves. That's why we need information from various parties," said Ibnu Saud.

He said the Tarakan City Inspectorate had been ordered to conduct an investigation regarding the alleged dissolution of the student nobar activity by the village authorities.

Regarding the demand for the removal of the Director of PDAM Tirta Alam Tarakan, Ibnu Saud emphasized that the government cannot make decisions without a legal basis and a clear process.

"We shouldn't assume. But we promise that we will seriously investigate this. We can't suddenly dismiss people if there is no legal basis," he said.

Ibnu Saud also ensured that the government would not protect any party if it was proven to have violated the law.

"This is a state of law. No one is immune from the law in this country," he concluded.

To note, after delivering aspirations at the mayor's office, the masses moved towards the Tarakan Police to report the Director of the Tarakan Water Company regarding the alleged dissemination of personal data of M. Iqbal, a member of the HMI Commission for Economic Raya of Tarakan Borneo University (UBT), which was disseminated through social media.

Until this news was published, there was no official statement from the Village Head of Six Village and the Director of Tirta Alam Tarakan Water Company regarding the demands and accusations made by the students. (*)