Youth Pledge on the Streets: Students Voice Five Demands for Change

The 98th commemoration of Youth Pledge Day on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, was marked by student demonstrations presenting five demands for change to the government. Through the #IndonesiaSadar (#IndonesiaAwake) movement, students—joined by various civil society elements—voiced concerns regarding environmental issues, the state budget, education, the eradication of corruption, and the protection of human rights.

The protest, initiated by the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) in collaboration with the Committee to Save the People’s Sovereignty (SADAR), centered on the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta. This movement was also linked to similar student demonstrations in several other cities, including Solo, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Malang, and Lampung.

Unlike some protests that have drawn attention due to unrest or the destruction of public property, this demonstration focused on expressing grievances through speeches, posters, and banners. Although there were moments of tension between the protesters and security forces in Jakarta, the situation did not escalate into major unrest.

In Jakarta, students voiced their concerns around the HI Roundabout and along several adjacent streets. The crowd displayed banners criticizing environmental management and the exercise of power, with messages calling for the protection of forests and demanding that those responsible for environmental destruction be held accountable.

The protest took place under tight security, with police officers maintaining a strong presence at various locations. The large number of participants also affected traffic flow in the heart of the capital city.

Youth Pledge Day as a Momentum to Criticize the Government

The #IndonesiaSadar (#IndonesiaAware) movement has utilized the Youth Pledge Day commemoration as a moment to remind the government of its responsibility to serve the public interest. Students argue that the spirit of unity and the struggle of the younger generation—which gave birth to the Youth Pledge in 1928—must now be translated into the courage to hold power accountable and fight for social justice.

This action also serves as a platform to evaluate the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka as it enters its second year. Through a set of demands dubbed the "Five People’s Mandates," the students have highlighted various issues that they believe require concrete solutions.

In Yogyakarta, the protest took a different approach: students chose to set aside their university-affiliated jackets in favor of civilian clothing. This was intended to emphasize that the aspirations being voiced do not represent a single campus, but rather a broader concern for the issues affecting society at large.

This choice reflects an effort to build a movement that transcends individual campuses and groups. Nevertheless, the success of such a movement is determined not merely by the number of participants or the volume of voices on the streets, but also by the ability to maintain consistent demands and monitor the government’s response.

The Five Demands: From Environmental Issues to Civil Liberties

The first demand focuses on addressing the ecological crisis. The students urge the government to declare a national emergency regarding forest and land fires, take action against the corporations responsible, and resolve issues surrounding land governance.

This demand highlights the question of accountability for environmental destruction. The students insist that the response to forest and land fires should not stop at extinguishing the flames or temporary restoration; it must also include legal action against those proven to be responsible.

Secondly, the students call for the management of the State Budget (APBN) to be more oriented toward the interests of the people. They have criticized the allocation of budget funds toward programs perceived as potentially wasteful—disguised as populist policies—including the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program and the 'Merah Putih' Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDMP).

In the view of the students, government programs should be evaluated based on their tangible benefits, how well they target the intended recipients, their transparency, and their overall impact on the public. This criticism highlights budget accountability as a critical issue in the administration of government.

Third, they demand lower education costs, equitable access to basic services, and the creation of quality employment opportunities. These issues are directly linked to the younger generation’s prospects for obtaining affordable education and decent work.

Fourth, the students urge an end to the misuse of the law to maintain power, as well as the eradication of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN). They emphasize the importance of non-discriminatory law enforcement and state institutions that can operate free from the interference of political interests.

Fifth, the students call for the restoration of freedom of expression, the resolution of human rights violations, and an end to the militarization of civic space. These demands address fundamental democratic concerns: ensuring that the public can criticize the government without intimidation, and ensuring that alleged human rights violations are addressed through fair legal mechanisms.

Tensions Ease, Aspirations Await a Response

In Jakarta, a brief scuffle involving pushing and shoving occurred between police officers and demonstrators in front of the Thamrin Nine building, as some protesters attempted to move toward the main rally site near the Bundaran HI roundabout. This tension serves as a reminder that managing demonstrations requires effective communication between authorities and participants.

Nevertheless, reports of these skirmishes do not suggest that the demonstration as a whole devolved into the destruction of public property. The expression of grievances—through speeches and the display of banners—remained the core of the protest.

This situation demonstrates that public demonstrations and public order need not be mutually exclusive. While the public has the right to express their opinions, protesters also have an obligation to respect the rights of road users and other citizens. Simultaneously, authorities are tasked with maintaining security while upholding the right to assemble and express one’s views.

Ultimately, the true measure of the #IndonesiaSadar (Indonesia Aware) movement is not merely whether the demonstration remained free of unrest, but whether the five demands presented receive a serious response. Maintaining order on the streets is a prerequisite for the expression of aspirations, yet it must not serve as an excuse for the government to disregard the substance of the criticism.

Nearly a century after young Indonesians pledged their commitment to one homeland, one nation, and one language, the younger generation is once again utilizing public space to voice their concerns regarding the nation’s future. Now, attention turns to whether the government is prepared to address these demands through policies that are measurable, transparent, and accountable.