The university students are rational and smart. Their target is a government that is good and progressing,
Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Teguh Yowono, the University of Diponegoro’s political analyst, opined that President Joko Widodo can stop the massive nationwide demonstrations staged to oppose the revised Law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and several controversial bills.

"There are several ways, for instance, by issuing a government regulation en lieu of the revised KPK Law and halting deliberation of the bills that lead to a controversy," Yuwono noted here on Saturday.

If not halted, the massive movement poses a threat since several lives will be at stake. In fact, the country's economy would, in most likelihood, be negatively impacted over rising concerns among members of the global community, he stated.

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This alumnus of Australia's University of Flinders projected a depreciation of the rupiah if the massive protests were to continue since it could cause concern overseas.

He affirmed that university students had not planned to target the cancellation of Widodo’s inauguration as president for the 2019-2024 period.

"The university students are rational and smart. Their target is a government that is good and progressive," he stated.

At the onset, the students were highly apprehensive when the KPK’s powers were diluted and their ire and frustration were further fueled by the controversial Bill on the Criminal Code (KUHP), resulting in their protests expanding beyond the KPK issue.

"Hence, their main target is to defend the KPK since the anti-graft agency is one of the most trusted institutions by the public," he emphasized.

He opined that the inadequate response of the president and House of Representatives (DPR) had failed to placate the students' protests.

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Translator: D DJ Kliwnatoro, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019