The Surabaya BEM Alliance Asks For The Cooking Oil Mafia To Be Completely Investigated

Police personnel stand by during a demonstration held by the Surabaya BEM Alliance at the East Java DPRD Building on Jalan Indrapura Surabaya, Thursday (14/4/2022). ANTARA/Willy Irawan.

SURABAYA - Thousands of people who are members of the Surabaya Student Executive Board Alliance (BEM) have asked the government to thoroughly investigate the alleged practice of the cooking oil mafia in Indonesia.

"Findly investigate the cooking oil mafia," said the field coordinator of the Surabaya BEM Alliance, Andre Prasetyo Utomo, during his action in front of the East Java DPRD building in Surabaya, as reported by Antara, Thursday, April 14.

During the action, around 3,000 students took to the streets and read out several demands to be fulfilled by the Central Government.

The action participants also asked for an evaluation of the increase in the price of fuel oil (BBM), especially Pertamax.

"The government must also review intensively regarding the distribution of Pertalite and Solar fuel which is experiencing shortages," he said.

The increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) to 11 percent was also in the spotlight of the students.

Meanwhile, as many as 2,448 police personnel were alerted to guard the student demonstration which was centered on Jalan Indrapura Surabaya.

The Head of Public Relations for the Surabaya Police, Kompol M Fakih, said the number of security forces consisted of 1,560 East Java Police personnel, 277 Surabaya Polrestabes personnel, 211 from the Sector Police ranks.

In addition, there are also other agencies, namely the TNI, the Transportation Service, Linmas and Satpol PP, which number up to 400 personnel.

The students had time to do a long march from tutuk gather at the Surabaya Zoo to the East Java DPRD building.

Demonstrators used motorbikes, and some walked across Diponegoro Street, Pasar Kembang Street, Kedungdoro Street, Bubutan Street, to Indrapura Street.

During the action, the students asked for representatives of the East Java DPRD members to meet them and promise to forward them to the Central Government.

Apparently, the Chairman of the East Java DPRD Kusnadi together with the Deputy Chair of the East Java DPRD Sahat Tua Simanjuntak met the students and committed to conveying guidance to the center.