Calls for reform grow ahead of Prabowo’s state address
Intellectuals call for the government to restore the independence of key state institutions to support the rule of law and end misallocation of state funds for initiatives including President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programs.
A growing chorus of intellectuals is demanding sweeping political and institutional reforms in Indonesia, particularly ahead of President Prabowo Subianto's upcoming State of the Nation address. A group of academics and intellectuals from the Interdisciplinary Intellectual Forum (FIAD) has released a 16-page manifesto, outlining a three-stage plan aimed at transforming Indonesia into a "just, democratic, sovereign and sustainable state".
The forum's members include academics from leading universities such as the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, and Gadjah Mada University, among others. They argue that the root cause of Indonesia's current challenges lies in a "decline in the quality of state governance", citing factors such as a growing disparity between government policies and constitutional principles, as well as an increasing concentration of decision-making power.
The manifesto's first demand calls for an end to "the destruction of democracy", urging Prabowo's administration to halt unconstitutional governance practices and restore independence to key state institutions. This move is intended to lay the groundwork for deeper reforms in subsequent stages, according to constitutional expert Bivitri Susanti, a member of the forum.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
