The civil society movement organized under the Republic Conference proceeded with their national consolidation agenda on Sunday, June 28, 2026, despite facing sudden administrative hurdles. The event, originally scheduled to take place at the University of Indonesia (UI) Salemba Campus in Jakarta, was forced to shift to an online format and a limited physical gathering in Cikini after campus management abruptly canceled the permit to use the facility.
The General Chairman of the Republic Conference Committee, Sudirman Said, emphasized that this forum is a space for collective reflection for academics, students, and civil society in safeguarding democracy. The movement, which originated from a meeting at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) last May, seeks to reposition the role of civil society as a major pillar contributing to the direction of state policy.
During the four-hour consolidation, more than 200 participants agreed on an inclusive, network-based organizational design that avoids hierarchical patterns and political party structures. The Committee's General Secretary, Yanuar Nugroho, explained that the movement's main focus is to restore citizens' rights as subjects of development, promoting leadership that is institutional, collective, and based on values of integrity.
On the other hand, the cancellation of the permit at UI sparked speculation about external pressure on campus authorities. Some suspect intervention from palace circles following President Prabowo Subianto's briefing to university rectors a few days earlier. Although student representative of the UI Board of Trustees, Razaan Bayu Rachman, acknowledged that there were inquiries from external parties, he emphasized that internally, the campus had no intention of obstructing the event.
As of the time of writing, the University of Indonesia, through its public relations department, stated that they are preparing an official response regarding the incident. Meanwhile, the Republic Conference committee committed to continuing the consolidation process in various regions to mature the organizational platform and expand the support base of civil society across Indonesia.
