BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – Hundreds of students from the Student Executive Board (BEM) of Udayana University and student organizations from several universities staged a protest in front of the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD Bali) on Monday (June 22, 2026). One of their main demands was for President Prabowo Subianto to dismiss Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai.
The demonstrators arrived at the Bali Parliament complex at around 3:30 p.m. local time and delivered speeches criticizing the government’s handling of various national issues. Protesters argued that the Ministry of Human Rights, under Pigai’s leadership, has failed to effectively address and advocate for human rights concerns across the country.
“We urge President Prabowo to remove the Human Rights Minister, who today is not carrying out his responsibilities in overseeing and addressing human rights issues,” a student representative said during the rally.
Beyond human rights concerns, the protesters also criticized what they described as poor public communication by several government officials. They pointed to a number of controversial statements made by cabinet members and called for a comprehensive evaluation of flagship government programs, including the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) and the Red-and-White Village Cooperative Program (KMP), which they believe could become vulnerable to corruption if not properly monitored.
The students also urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to immediately pass the long-awaited Asset Confiscation Bill, arguing that it would strengthen efforts to combat corruption in Indonesia.
Chairman of BEM Udayana University, I Gusti Agung Ngurah Oka Paramahamsa, said the protest carried 16 demands grouped into five major clusters: democracy, civilian supremacy, and governance; human rights and civil liberties; economic and fiscal policies and public welfare; education and public services; and environmental, agrarian, and indigenous peoples’ issues.
Representatives of the Bali Provincial Parliament received the students’ demands, including Deputy Speaker III I Komang Nova Sewi Putra, PDI-P faction chairman I Made Supartha, and Commission I member Anak Agung Gede Agung Suyoga. The lawmakers pledged to forward the students’ aspirations and demands to the central government.
The demonstration proceeded under police supervision and concluded peacefully later in the afternoon.
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