Head Of BEM UI Removed: Students Don't Be Afraid, Keep Voice!

BEM UGM criticized by installing a billboard of President Joko Widodo who received the title of the most embarrassing UGM alumnus. (Special)

JAKARTA - The deactivation of Melki Sedek Huang as Chairman of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) raises a question mark.

Melki admitted that he received a temporary dismissal letter on Monday (18/12/2023) signed by the Deputy Chairperson of BEM UI, Shifa Anindya Hartono. However, Melki explained that the deactivation was in accordance with the applicable BEM UI rules.

Melki's deactivation is in accordance with BEM UI Regulation Number 1 of 2023. However, the regulation does not specify how long the deactivation will take.

The case of removing Melki Sedek Huang is widely discussed on social media. The man who was born in 2000 is accused of committing sexual violence, so temporary deactivation needs to be carried out for investigation.

However, Melki admitted that until now he did not know the violations he had committed until he was finally temporarily removed. He also denied having committed sexual violence.

"Until today, I don't know what rule to break. I also feel that I have never violated any rules, let alone related to sexual violence," said Melki.

The Director of Student Affairs at the University of Indonesia (UI), Badrul Munir confirmed the reporting of cases of sexual violence on behalf of Melki to BEM and the UI Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (PPKS). Furthermore, Badrul said, BEM UI has internal rules that say that administrators who are reported or involved in cases of sexual violence must be inactive.

"Every case of KS (sexual violence) at UI is handled by the PPKS Task Force which is formed and assigned independently, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Chancellor Regulation," explained Badrul.

Apart from the alleged sexual violence case committed by Melki, this UI Faculty of Law student is one of the critical of the government and social conditions.

Since serving as Chair of BEM UI as of January 2023, Melki has repeatedly criticized the government and other formal branches of power. The Constitutional Court's (MK) decision regarding the minimum age limit requirement for presidential and vice presidential candidates cannot be separated from criticism from Melki and other students.

Melki also admitted that he was intimidated by the police, even his family in West Kalimantan and his teacher at SMAN 1 Pontianak. According to his allegations, the intimidation attempt was related to the student movement regarding the Constitutional Court's decision.

Most recently, on the same day that Melki's deactivation letter as Chair of BEM UI was issued, he was also present at the corn action in front of the Surakarta Mayor's Office. In the action, Melki and other students held corn as a symbol of democracy that was still old as corn.

Because of this recognition of intimidation, some people consider the temporary removal of Melki as an attempt to silence those who are vocal in criticizing the government.

Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) Dedi Kurnia Syah said it was necessary to pay attention to the reasons for the temporary removal of Melki as Chair of BEM UI. According to Dedi, if there is a strong reason for the dismissal of Melki, for example a violation of UI regulations, it means that it is a public dismissal and is not related to power.

However, if the violations alleged against Melki are not proven, then the removal of the parents is suspected.

"If Melki is not proven to have committed a violation, it should be suspected that it has something to do with silencing efforts, especially if Melki Sedek is productive in terms of protesting against power," said Dedi to VOI.

If it is true that what Melki did was an attempt to silence, then Dedi also warned BEM UGM to be vigilant so as not to have the same fate as the Chair of BEM UI.

"It should be noted, BEM UGM must also be more careful and vigilant, because it is in the momentum of protesting that is not inferior to the regime. Do not let BEM UGM follow the fate of BEM UI," said Dedi.

As is known, recently BEM UGM installed a billboard containing criticism of President Joko Widodo. In the billboard, Jokowi's face is split in two. On the left side, it appears that Jokowi is wearing a coat and crown, while on the right side of Jokowi wears a UGM alma mater suit and caping hat.

The billboard also reads BEM KM UGM Presents: The Most Embarrassing UGM Alumnus. Mr. Joko Widodo.

Head of BEM KM UGM, Gielbran M Noor, said the billboard was a form of disappointment with the criminalization of corruption activists and era eras of Jokowi.

"This is a form of disappointment for us as UGM students as well, that Pak Jokowi has led almost two terms, but in reality there are still many fundamental problems that have not been resolved. In fact, he has quite a lot of time to solve these problems," said Gielbran around the UGM Roundabout, Yogyakarta, Friday (8/12).