Soeharto Banned Student Movements

VIVAnews – 38 years ago today, on 22 January 1970, following a widespread student protest against the corruption within his government, President Soeharto decided to ban student protest and demonstration in Indonesia.

Two years after being elected as the president of Indonesia, Soeharto’s popularity among the elites, especially the students, began to wane. When Soeharto first came to power in 1966, in addition to the military, he relied heavily on the supports of political figures, religious leaders, and ultimately, students. Thus why during the early years of the New Order regime, there was little opposition to his administration, since most of the Indonesian elites at the time were all rallied behind his cause.

However, as the New Order regime began consolidating its power, it began to see political figures, religious leaders, and students as potential threats to the government. And vice versa, the three groups were not pleased with Soeharto. They were all disgusted with his open economic policy, his embrace of foreign investment, his close relationship with wealthy businessmen, and the spread of corruption within his government. Thus, by the end of 1969, some of his former student supporters as well as new generation of students began to criticize him. 

The criticism grew even larger after Soeharto-appointed commission announced to the public that corruption was indeed widespread within his government. This announcement sparked the students to hold massive protests and demonstrations against the government. Soeharto, who was terribly embarrassed by this finding, soon shut down the commission.

He also took several steps to suppress the student movement. Finally, to prevent the protest getting out of hand, on 22 January 1970, Soeharto banned student protest and demonstration in Indonesia.

This harsh policy managed to curb student protests for a while. However, from 1971 to 1978, student protests and demonstrations in Indonesia became widespread again as the New Order regime became even more totalitarian than it was during the end of 1960s.