Anarchist Student Demonstrations Disrupt National Economic Stability and Growth

By: Arsenio Bagas Pamungkas )*

Demonstrations that end in anarchic actions are increasingly frequent and have raised concerns among various parties. The latest incident that occurred around the Horse Statue, Jakarta, shows how some of the masses consisting of students have damaged public facilities and created tension in the community.

In widely circulated footage, a group of students were seen destroying congratulatory flower arrangements for the Governor and Deputy Governor of Jakarta in front of City Hall on Friday (21/2/2025). Dozens of flower boards were seen falling on the road divider due to the brutal action.

A City Hall security officer who declined to be named confirmed that around 200 students who were about to hold a demonstration destroyed at least 30 flower arrangements before the rain fell at three in the afternoon.

The masses came from the direction of Gambir towards the Horse Statue under police escort, but continued to carry out actions that were detrimental to public facilities. In addition to damaging property, the demonstration carried out by the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) entitled “Dark Indonesia” was also marked by more extreme actions.

The students deliberately tied ropes to the concrete barriers that had been installed to maintain order in the demonstration and tried to tear them down. The police repeatedly appealed for the demonstration to be peaceful and not cause damage, but the appeals were ignored.

The Head of the Golkar Party DPP for Media and Opinion Raising, Nurul Arifin, emphasized that demonstrations are the right of every citizen in a democratic system, but must be carried out in a constructive manner.

The anarchic actions that occurred not only harmed a handful of parties, but also threatened political and economic stability in general. Actions like this, if allowed to continue, could create uncertainty in the investment climate and hamper the rate of national economic growth.

Nurul also reminded that aspirations conveyed through demonstrations need to be carried out while still respecting public order so as not to end in riots that harm all parties.

On the other hand, the Coordinator of the Red and White Legal Team, C Suhadi SH MH, assessed that the movement entitled “Dark Indonesia” did not have a clear direction and tended to have the potential to divide the nation.

According to him, the current state of the country is in good condition, with the economy running stably and under control. Several problems that have emerged during the course of the government are still on a small scale and can be resolved immediately.

Excessive criticism of the government that has only been running for 100 days is considered disproportionate. Suhadi emphasized that the budget tightening policy implemented by the government aims to achieve efficiency and eliminate waste, not to cut people’s primary needs. The government has also shown its seriousness in building the nation by replacing officials who do not work optimally for the benefit of the people.

Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, also gave her views on demonstrations that ended in anarchy. According to her, demonstrations are common in a democratic system, but when they end in violence and destruction, the impact is very detrimental.

Economic stability can be disrupted if demonstrations exceed the established legal limits. The delivery of aspirations should be carried out within the legal corridor so as not to cause unrest in society and to maintain a stable economic climate. Compliance with the rule of law is key to maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and public order.

Demonstrations that turn into anarchic actions have broad consequences for the national economy. Political instability caused by such actions can reduce investor confidence, cause investment slowdowns, and hamper ongoing development projects. Business actors tend to withdraw from an unfavorable environment, which ultimately hampers economic growth and creates uncertainty in the market.

The government is currently trying to build the nation with various strategic policies. However, demonstrations that end in anarchic actions are actually the main obstacle in achieving this goal.

Therefore, demonstrations that want to convey aspirations should be carried out peacefully and constructively so as not to harm the country’s political and economic stability. The public must be more critical in understanding the goals of a movement so as not to be provoked by an unclear agenda that only aims to create chaos.