Student Demo At DPRD Central Lombok Burns Ban, Rejects Three-Term President And Increases Fuel Prices

Action of students who are members of the Central Lombok HMI at the local regent's office, Monday (11/4/2022) (ANTARA/Akhyar)

PRAYA - Police officers from Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), have deployed hundreds of personnel to guard the peaceful demonstration of students in the local area who rejected the postponement of the 2024 election and highlighted the increase in the price of fuel oil (BBM) and basic necessities.

"The number of members we have deployed is 400 personnel," said Head of the Operations Section of the Central Lombok Police, Kompol Anton, when he participated in guarding the peaceful student protest in Praya, as reported by Antara, Monday, April 11.

The hundreds of personnel were deployed at several points, both on the highway and at the student peaceful demonstration sites at the Central Lombok DPRD office and at the Central Lombok Regent's office as well as locations that became mass gathering points.

"Our members are divided into two groups, there are those who work in the DPRD office and the regent's office. The point is that we spread out to keep this action safe and comfortable," he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of students who were members of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) Central Lombok Branch held a peaceful protest while burning tires in front of the local DPRD office, while students who were members of the Islamic Student Association (HMI) held an action at the intersection of four Praya shops, in front of IPDN campus as well as at the Central Lombok Regent's office.

The General Coordinator of Central Lombok HMI Hamdan Juliandi said that students rejected the discourse on a three-term presidential office, because it was contrary to the state constitution, namely Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution, which was then amended in 1998. The President and Vice President hold office for a term of five years and thereafter can be elected. return to the same position for only one term.

"And prosecute the person who issued the opinion because the Central Lombok Branch of the Islamic Student Association has disturbed the stability of the nation," he said.

He also strongly rejects the issue of postponing elections that have been discoursed by several parties, because the reasons are unreasonable, even very contrary to the mandate of the constitution and the mandate of reform in the 1945 Constitution in Article 7 and Article 22 E.

"Elections are held every 5 years and the president and vice president are only re-elected for one term," he said. The Central Lombok Branch of Islamic Student Association also rejected the increase in fuel oil from the previous price of Rp. 9,000-9,400 to 12,500 to 12,500. 13,000, because the community, besides being hit by job and economic difficulties which are very worrying from the impact of COVID 19, coupled with the increase in fuel prices and basic necessities.

"This is certainly an attitude that will ensnare and entangle the community towards their survival. We reject the increase in basic necessities," he said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Central Lombok, Lalu Firman Wijaya, said that the aspirations of the students would be followed up with the central government.

"Everything that is being demanded is the policy of the central government, not the regional government," he said.