UGM Academic Community Submits Petition, Asking the President to Return to the Corridor of Democracy

Through the Bulaksumur Petition, the UGM academic community asked President Jokowi and his staff to return to the corridors of democracy.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Sivitas Akademika UGM Sampaikan Petisi, Minta Presiden Kembali ke Koridor Demokrasi

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Professor Koentjoro, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology at Gadjah Mada University, read out the Bulaksumur Petition at Balairung UGM in Sleman, Yogyakarta Special Region on Wednesday (31/1/2024).

SLEMAN, KOMPAS - The academic community of Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, have submitted a petition to President Joko Widodo regarding the recent political situation. Through the petition, named Petisi Bulaksumur, the academic community of UGM is requesting that President Jokowi and his team return to the path of democracy.

On Wednesday (31/1/2024), a number of academic communities from UGM gathered at Balairung UGM, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, to read the petition. The reading of the petition was conducted by Professor Koentjoro from the Faculty of Psychology at UGM.

"We, the entire academic community of UGM, request, urge, and demand all law enforcement officials and all government officials and political actors behind President Joko Widodo, including the President himself, to immediately return to the democratic corridor and uphold the values of popular sovereignty and social justice," said Koentjoro when reading the Bulaksumur Petition. "

Koentjoro explained that after observing the political situation in recent times and considering the values of Pancasila and UGM's identity, the academic community of UGM expressed deep concern regarding the actions of certain government officials who were deemed to deviate from the principles of moral democracy, populism, and social justice.

Also read: Bulaksumur Petition Demands President Jokowi Return to the Corridor of Democracy

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

The academic community of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) sang the "Himne Gadjah Mada" and "Bagimu Negeri" songs after the presentation of the Bulaksumur Petition at Balairung UGM, Sleman District, Yogyakarta Special Region, on Wednesday (31/1/2024).

According to Koentjoro, the deviations include, among others, ethical violations at the Constitutional Court, the involvement of law enforcement officials in the ongoing representative democracy process, and President Jokowi's statement about the involvement of public officials in political campaigns.

"We regret the deviant actions that have occurred during the administration of President Joko Widodo, who is also part of the larger UGM family," he stated.

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Koentjoro reminds us that President Jokowi should adhere to the identity of the university that upholds the values of Pancasila. Therefore, President Jokowi should also strengthen the process of democratization to ensure that it meets high moral standards and achieves the goal of establishing a legitimate government.

In the petition, UGM academics also reminded President Joko Widodo to always remember his promise as a UGM alumni as stated in the song "Hymne Gadjah Mada". In the song, there are the lyrics ”...To us my alma mater pledges allegiance. I fulfill the dharma of devotion to Mother Earth. In your unity the souls of all my people. I uphold your culture, the glory of the archipelago...".

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

The academic community of Gadjah Mada University is preparing to attend the presentation of the Bulaksumur Petition in Balairung UGM, Yogyakarta, after holding a meeting at the UGM Senate Hall on Wednesday (31/1/2024).

"Instead of practicing loyalty to his alma mater by upholding Pancasila and striving to realize its values, President Jokowi's actions actually demonstrate forms of deviation from the principles and moral values of democracy, popular sovereignty, and social justice which are the essence of Pancasila," said Koentjoro.

That is why, the academic community of UGM is urging President Jokowi and his administration to return to the corridor of democracy. In addition, they are also calling on the MPR and DPR to take concrete actions and steps in responding to various political disturbances at present.

Also read: Social Assistance and Salary Increases Ahead of the Election are Considered to Have Political Overtones

The Bulaksumur petition was formulated by a number of professors, lecturers, students, and alumni of UGM. The head of the UGM Pancasila Study Center, Agus Wahyudi, stated that this petition was created based on discussions about a number of recent issues.

"This petition is the accumulation of long-held dissatisfaction, and finally we decided it must be voiced after this annoyance reached its peak when we saw President Jokowi showing his support for one of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates," said Agus.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

The academic community of Gadjah Mada University is preparing to listen to the presentation of the Bulaksumur Petition at the Balairung UGM, Yogyakarta, on Wednesday (31/1/2024).

According to Agus, the petition is expected to be directly conveyed to President Jokowi. However, if there is no response from President Jokowi, Agus said that they would not urge for this petition to be followed up with a street demonstration.

"We only hope that the legislative community can assist us by pushing the government to immediately improve the situation and circumstances," he said. (Note: There are no forbidden words in this article.)

We regret the deviant actions that have occurred during the administration of President Joko Widodo, who is also a part of the larger UGM family.