Minister Of Research And Technology Forbids Campus From Being A Place For Politics In Today's History, May 20, 2017

Mohamad Nasir, who was Minister of Research and Technology Dikti from the 2014-2019 era. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA History today, eight years ago, May 20, 2017, the Minister of Research for Technology and Higher Education (Menristekdikti), Mohamad Nasir forbade campuses to be used as a place for politics. He considers campuses as a place to gain knowledge. Not politics.

Previously, there were no two students who defended the lives of the people. They are often sensitive to injustice. Once there is an unfavorable policy for the people, they take to the streets. They also criticized the government.

Lecturers have a big role in the historical development of the Indonesian nation. Their presence is an important basis for Indonesia to be independent. They felt that ignorance was the culprit of setbacks and the tools of colonization of the natives.

This condition made them move to liberate the nation. In fact, some of them are trying to develop education so that it can be accessed by all people. The wealth of educated people never escapes when Indonesia is independent.

The educated people were absorbed into the people's mouths in shouting injustice. This condition can be seen when students are engaged in Tritura Action (three demands of the people) during the Old Order era 1966.

This action became an important trigger for Soekarno and the Old Order. Likewise with the actions of students who demanded the reform era in 1998. They saw Suharto had taken the lead too long. However, lately the people have been getting more difficult to live because the rupiah exchange rate has dropped.

The economic crisis is happening everywhere. There are more and more student Gelora going to the streets. As a result, Suharto and his New Order were no longer in power. The student action of defending the people and hitting politics continues. It's not just a matter of overthrowing the regime.

Take for example when fuel oil goes up, they move. Everything is proof that student activities are not just learning. They often touch the political realm and make the campus a place for political discussion.

In the records of national figures, Arief Budiman is a young and educated person from fighting against the colonial government of the Dutch East Indies. Educated people have indeed played an important role when the nation and homeland are experiencing a crisis.

"It started with the youth who made the national movement that sparked the 1928 Youth Pledge, the physical revolution against the Dutch and Japan in the 1945 era, as well as the youth movement to kidnap Ir. Soekarno and Drs. Mohamad Hatta who was later named the proclaimer to liberate the homeland," said R. Toto Sugiharto in the book Habibie: From Malari to Reform (2017).

Recently, the government of the Joko Widodo (Jokowi) government, like an allergy to campus, has become a political arena. The statement was revealed by the Minister of Research and Technology, Mohamad Nasir on May 20, 2017. He forbade campuses to be used as a place for politics.

Nasir conveyed the narrative after opening the LPTK Neger Chancellor and Vice Chancellor Meeting throughout Indonesia in Medan. The meeting was attended by 12 universities, from Medan State University to Makassar State University.

He considers the campus only worthy of being used as a place to gain knowledge. Not for politics. Students are considered to have to focus on education for a better future. Anyone who wants to be active in politics Nasir asks them to look for this activity off campus.

Nasir's statement was criticized by many parties. The question is considered not to understand the role of students as agents of change.

"So, don't use the campus as a place of practical politics, this must be kept away, and avoided. Because campuses have been a place for students to study and don't be influenced by things related to political interests," Nasir said as quoted on the tempo.co page, May 20, 2017.