Emergency PPKM Protest Cancels, BEM Universitas Muhammadiyah Distributes Basic Food To PKL

A number of activists carry merchant carts as a symbol of protest against PPKM (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Student Executive Board (BEM) of the University of Muhammadiyah Jember has canceled a demonstration related to the Policy for the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM).

Because it was canceled, the students replaced it with the action of distributing groceries to traders.

"We canceled the demonstration because we were not allowed to hold demonstrations, so we only distributed basic necessities to street vendors (PKL) affected by PPKM," said the coordinator of the BEM action at the Muhammadiyah University of Jember M. Yayan in Jember, East Java, quoted from Antara, Monday, July 26.

The student activists carried carts as a symbol of street vendors being one of those affected by the PPKM policy and the unequal distribution of aid.

According to him, representatives of BEM UM Jember activists had anticipated by limiting the number of participants in the action to avoid crowds, but the police were still not allowed to because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The distribution of groceries to traders is also a form of protest against the government's unequal distribution of assistance to those affected by PPKM," he said.

He explained that there were eight demands of BEM UM Jember related to government policies in implementing PPKM in Java and Bali, namely first, urging the central government to evaluate policies in the aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic, then pressing the central government to prioritize public health aspects in dealing with the pandemic.

"We also urge the central government to implement Law Number 6 of 2018 article 55 paragraph 1 concerning Health Quarantine in handling COVID-19," he said.

The fourth demand is demanding the House of Representatives (DPR) to cut salaries for handling the pandemic, then allocate payment costs during the blackout of public street lighting (PJU) for social assistance handling COVID-19.

Sixth, to increase social assistance to communities affected by the pandemic, then press the Jember Regency Government to review the PJU policies that were extinguished during the PPKM period, and finally stop repressive actions against people who are engaged in MSMEs and street vendors.

A number of activists from BEM UM Jember were asked to do an antigen swab test and they were willing to do it according to the request of the police, but students were prohibited from displaying a banner of demands.

Representatives of the activists were met by members of the Jember DPRD who were ready to accept their aspirations by not holding demonstrations, so that expressing their aspirations was allowed inside the council building.

Meanwhile, Jember DPRD member Nyoman Aribowo supported the concern of students by distributing basic necessities to street vendors who were affected by the PPKM policy.

"Regarding the demands for a salary cut for council members for handling COVID-19, members of the Jember DPRD have actually carried out social actions for their constituents affected by the pandemic," he said.