Members Of The Riau Islands DPRD And Students Compact Pave While Chatting

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Members of the Riau Islands DPRD (Kepri) and student protesters sit on the tarmac while having a dialogue in front of the local DPRD office.

Deputy Chairman I of the Riau Islands DPRD, Raden Hari Tjahyono, accompanied by the chairman of the PDI-P faction, Lis Darmansyah, and the chairman of the Golkar faction, Teddy Jun Askara, heard firsthand the aspirations of the students who were demonstrating.

"I appreciate when there are problems in the midst of citizens, then the nation's children voice them through ways like this, because demonstrations are also part of democracy," said Raden, in front of hundreds of students, Monday, April 11.

Raden responded to the aspirations of students related to rejecting the postponement of the election, the increase in food and fuel, and the 11 percent increase in value added tax (VAT).

He admitted that he agreed and was committed to voicing the student's rejection of the central government.

"We agreed to reject the postponement of the election, especially regarding the increase in food and fuel, as well as 11 percent VAT which is considered a burden on the people," said Raden quoted from Antara.

Meanwhile, Lis Darmansyah expressed his gratitude to the students because the government also needs criticism for the sake of change for the better.

In terms of parties, he said, the PDI-P, from the General Chair to the ranks, has clearly and unequivocally refused to postpone the election and refused to propose a discourse on the position of the President of the Republic of Indonesia for three terms.

"Regarding the 11 percent increase in fuel and VAT, we agree with the students," said Lis.

Lis said the three items of student demands would be formally outlined in the form of a formal draft by the DPRD to be forwarded to related institutions, ranging from the DPR, MPR, ministries, to the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

"This statement of attitude must indeed be written in the form of a formal draft by the DPRD for the aspirations of today's students," said Lis.

The student demonstration in front of the Riau Islands DPRD office took place in a safe and orderly manner. Hundreds of police personnel guarded the demonstration humanely.