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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Educational Monitoring Network (JPPI) has condemned the repressive actions by the police against students who held demonstrations rejecting the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in Jayapura and Wamena, Papua. The peaceful demonstration was forcibly dispersed by the authorities, who were allegedly using physical violence and tear gas.
JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji stated that the violence against students peacefully expressing their aspirations is a serious violation of human rights and freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution. "We also regret reports of students being beaten and detained by the police," he said in a written statement on Monday, February 17, 2025.
JPPI urged the government to thoroughly investigate these repressive actions and ensure that the involved authorities receive appropriate legal sanctions. In addition, JPPI demanded the unconditional release of the detained students and the fulfillment of the right to free and quality education for all students in Papua, in accordance with Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution.
JPPI called on all elements of society, including civil organizations, media, and public figures, to collectively uphold law enforcement against this repressive action and ensure the fulfillment of educational rights for all children of the nation.
Thousands of students in Wamena, Papua Pegunungan, held demonstrations in rejection of the free nutritious meals policy. The police estimated that around 3,500 students participated in the demonstration."The demonstration was attended by junior high school, high school students, and university students, and began early this morning," said Operations Chief of Jayawijaya Regional Police Commissioner Police Suparmanto to Tempo via telephone on Monday, February 17, 2025.
At the time of writing this news, Supramanto stated that the demonstration was still ongoing. The thousands of students were currently in front of the office of the Regent of Jayawijaya in Papua Pegunungan. "We are facilitating an audience to prevent unrest and undesirable events," he said.
The thousands of students took to the streets at 08:00 local time. According to the police, the students came from Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, and Yahukimo Regency. Based on videos seen by Tempo, they voiced their rejection of the policy of free nutritious meals initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
"Reject free nutritious meals, give us free education," was written on one of the banners. Asken Yohans, one of the students participating in the demonstration, stated that he and thousands of students in Wamena and Papua in general need access to free education and adequate school facilities. "We don't want free nutritious meals, what we want is easy schooling, easy access to medical treatment, that's it," he said to Tempo over the phone.
According to Asken, the free nutritious meals policy will not allow him and his friends to study peacefully. In addition to the fundamental issue of unfinished education in Papua Pegunungan, access to healthcare facilities is also minimal.
Asken mentioned that the education situation in Wamena is adequate. The same goes for access to healthcare facilities. However, Papua Pegunungan is not just Wamena.
"Our friends who live far from Wamena, in remote districts, they can't go to school, the schools are there but they are of poor quality, teachers are often absent. We want free education and healthcare, not free nutritious meals," he said.Various forms of rejection were also recorded in a video report posted on @infowamena's Instagram account. One video clip showed a student delivering a speech in front of thousands of people dressed in gray and white attire.
The student stated that free nutritious meals were not a solution to the problems in Papua. He said that the students' aspirations must be conveyed to the president. "Let's continue to move forward, and we want this to be heard by the regent, the governor, and the president," he said.
Based on video footage seen by Tempo, the student demonstrations became chaotic. Disturbances occurred around 09:00 WIT (Eastern Indonesian Time), when the crowd moved towards the cross tower located in front of the office of the Regent of Jayawijaya. The unrest took place on Hom-hom Street, a few hundred meters from the office of the Regent of Jayawijaya.
Asken said that the police fired tear gas towards the crowd of students. The student formation was disrupted due to the tear gas shots.
"There were several rounds of tear gas shots, initially the police didn't allow us to move forward," he said.
The police confirmed that the student demonstration became chaotic and tear gas was fired. However, the police stated that the tear gas shots were carried out according to procedure. The reason for firing tear gas was due to stone throwing from the crowd towards the authorities on duty.
"Tear gas was used as a preventive measure to prevent the unrest from spreading," said Operations Chief of Jayawijaya Regional Police Commissioner Police Suparmanto.
Supramanto stated that the stone throwing came from a group wearing casual clothes. "There were indeed stone throwing incidents, it seems that it was not from the students," he said.
He stated that the unrest did not last long. Students who requested to meet with the acting governor had now gathered in front of the office of the Regent of Jayawijaya.
"The situation is now conducive. The students are currently in an audience with the acting governor and are accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Jayawijaya Police," he said.
Nandito Putra contributed to the writing of this article.
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