BANDUNG, Indonesia — Students in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, again conducted a protest on a larger scale than before, taking place Monday, June 15, 2026. The mass of protesters demanded an overhaul of economic policies to the cessation of militarism practices in civilian affairs
Hundreds of students held the action titled "Towards a Bankrupt Indonesia" in front of the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building. They arrived at the location at approximately 15:00 WIB, by conducting a long march from the direction of the Tamansari and Dipatiukur areas.
During that journey, students sang several chants related to the demands that would be read. On the other hand, security forces had been on standby by implementing tight security. Police officers were also equipped with tactical equipment such as batons, shields, as well as Watercanon vehicles and mass dispersal vehicles.
Upon arrival in front of the West Java DPRD building, the protesters gathered, forming a large circle. They also placed banners reading "Indonesia Sakit (Indonesia is sick)," "Rupiah Menukik, Rakyat Tercekik (Rupiah dives, the people are strangled)," "Indonesia di Ujung Jurang (Indonesia on the edge of the abyss)," and "Maling Berkedok Gizi (Thieves disguised as nutrition)."
Several protesters pasted posters on the fence walls of the West Java DPRD and scribbled on the walls and roads using spray paint. This action was a form of their disappointment with the Prabowo regime.
A number of students took turns delivering orations using loudspeakers. They highlighted the injustice occurring in this country and actions considered as a form of government arbitrariness.
A participant of the action, Muhammad Abdul Malik Albarakati, said the demonstration brought a number of demands focusing on government economic policies and state governance issues. Students asked the government to stop several programs considered to burden the state budget, including the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program and the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP), as well as reducing spending for state officials' overseas visits.
This condition follows the weakening of the Rupiah exchange rate against the Dollar, which is now at around more than Rp17 thousand per Dollar. This has an impact on the increase in the price of basic commodities and non-subsidized vehicle fuel prices. The conflict in the Middle East also influenced Indonesia's economic stability.
In addition to economic issues, the mass of protesters also highlighted what they called symptoms of the strengthening of New Order era practices. They linked this to the passing of the TNI Law revision and a number of regulations related to the police considered to expand the role of the apparatus in the civil space.
Malik said students assess that the policy-making process does not fully reflect the aspirations of the community. Students also criticized conditions that, according to them, increasingly prioritize loyalty over competence in the administration of government.
According to Malik, this action is part of a series of student protests that have taken place in recent times in several cities, including Jakarta and Bandung. Various previous demonstrations, he said, had not obtained an adequate response from the government. This made students decide to return to the streets to convey aspirations. Nevertheless, he emphasized the action was designed as a peaceful demonstration.
"We have no intention to conduct provocation or actions that violate the law. Students want to convey aspirations in an orderly manner," said Malik.
He added that students will continue to voice their demands if they have not received a response from the government. Besides conveying criticism, students also claimed to have compiled a study and offered a number of recommendations for the issues they highlighted.
Another student, Ferry Anwar, said the action also demanded an education revolution. According to him, so far, the cost of education is still categorized as expensive for the middle-to-lower class of society. In addition, there are still many honorary teachers who are far from the word prosperous.
"[Demand] The second is to abolish MBG. The third is to remove the TNI-Polri Law that enters civil society," he said at the protest location.
In addition, he saw Indonesia's economic condition as currently unstable. According to him, many citizens find it difficult to meet daily basic needs because prices have risen, but income has not increased.
Nonetheless, he said, the issue of education, the MBG program, and the rejection of TNI-Polri involvement in the civil space became the main focus brought by the masses.
"Because we see that economically there has been no concrete action or solution from the state, seeing the geopolitical conditions of the Iran and America war," he said.
In the action, students conveyed broader political demands. They claimed they did not focus on meeting members of the West Java DPRD, but rather wanted to voice their rejection of the current government.
The sun began to set in the Bandung sky at approximately 17:30 WIB. The mass of protesters were observed trying to push into the people's representative building. However, police officers guarding in front of the gate were on standby. As a result, the attempt failed.
In the midst of that atmosphere, the sound of an explosion was suddenly heard from the direction of the crowd. The sound came from firecrackers lit by the protesters and directed toward the West Java DPRD building. Conditions on the ground began to heat up slightly.
Through a loudspeaker, the police asked the mass to remain orderly in conducting the protest. However, the sound of explosions was heard several times before the mass finally left the location.
The mass of protesters plan to conduct a demonstration again if the demands they brought today receive no response at all from the government.
Photos of the student demonstration by Khairizal Maris and photos the protest in Bandung by Ilham Ahmad Nazar / JNA Press Photo
