TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Republic Conference canceled the national consolidation event at the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Salemba after the building management suddenly revoked the permit on Sunday, June 28, 2026. Nevertheless, the Republic Conference continued to hold the consolidation event online.
In this national consolidation event, several outcomes were determined through their discussions. What were they? Here are some key facts:
1. What is the Republic Conference?
The Republic Conference is a national consolidation movement and forum initiated by civil society, academicians, and students. The forum aims to formulate critical steps in safeguarding democracy in Indonesia.
This movement is a continuation of the first conference held in Yogyakarta on Saturday, May 30, 2026. At that time, several civil society organizations, activists, academicians, and national figures consolidated at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, in a forum titled 'The Republic Conference: Strengthening Civil Society as the Pillar of the Republic.'
The General Chair of the Republic Conference Committee, Sudirman Said, stated that the meeting in Yogyakarta was a space for reflection on ideas that had previously been scattered across various movements. This conference would unite, reinforce, and transform these ideas into organized collective will.
"This forum is essentially a continuation of historical calling. This republic was brought forth by the presence of civil society long before the state emerged," said the former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources in a written statement on Friday, May 30, 2026. "Hence, the density of civil society must be re-established as an active axis contributing to the black-and-white of the Republic."
According to Sudirman, history has recorded that civil society has always been the forefront beacon for the people and the changing times, including the main driving force towards independence. However, he stated that the emergence of the civil society movement was an unintentional consequence of ethical politics.
It was from the meeting at UGM that the Republic Conference movement later held a follow-up consolidation event at the UI campus.
2. Results of the June 28 National Consolidation
The National Consolidation of the Republic Conference concluded its meeting in Cikini, Central Jakarta on Sunday afternoon, June 28, 2026. During the four-hour discussion, three main themes were addressed: platform, movement design, and management.
The Secretary General of the Republic Conference Committee, Yanuar Nugroho, stated that over 200 people from various organizations participated in the discussions. "They engaged in the discussions both in person and online," said the former Deputy Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP) after the Republic Conference in Cikini, Central Jakarta.
The discussions highlighted the values to be upheld by the organization. Yanuar mentioned that there were various views on the values to be fought for. However, all participants agreed that the values embraced would strive for the public good. "We then linked it to mutual cooperation, coalitions should be cross-generational, cross-sectoral, and cross-actor," said Yanuar.
In addition, the national consolidation agreed on the movement's goals, which aimed to restore the rights of citizens as subjects, not objects. Yanuar stated that the public needed to be involved in development and politics.
The second theme discussed the organizational structure. The congress agreed that the Republic Conference would not be formed as a political party. Nor would it be designed as a hierarchical organization with a central leadership and branches.
Participants of the Conference agreed that the organizational design would be network-based. This meant that the organization would seek to connect various groups from different backgrounds. From book publishers, civil society groups, women's groups, people with disabilities, farmers, workers, and academics.
"It is certainly not easy. But because of the principles of inclusivity and togetherness, the platform was devised to enable these various organizations to come together," said Yanuar.
The third theme spoke about leadership. Three qualities of leadership were agreed upon. First, institutional leadership. "This means not highlighting oneself but being willing to maintain the institution, institutional leadership," he said.
Second, collective leadership. This movement will always renew the movement and structure under various conditions. "So it is developed together," he said.
Third, intrinsic leadership. This leadership prioritizes values, not pragmatic and egocentric interests.
In the discussion on management, 17 people were approved as new officials. Thus, the total officials became 20 people. However, it has not been finalized which positions they will hold.
The General Chair of the Republic Conference Committee, Sudirman Said, stated that the three themes discussed were not yet final. The discussions were still in the form of main ideas.
The selection of twenty officials also has not been finalized. He aimed for the management to be formed in the coming two weeks.
"We will continue to work from region to region, there might be additions, both enriching the platform and strengthening the organization," he said.
3. Sudden Cancellation by UI
The relocation of the national consolidation event of the Republic Conference from the UI Campus in Salemba to Cikini and virtually was not without reason.
Originally, the Republic Conference was to be held at the UI Campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Sunday morning, June 28, 2026. However, UI suddenly canceled the event on its campus.
Nevertheless, the committee continued the event titled "Rearranging the Republic" via Zoom at 1:00 PM Western Indonesia Time.
The Republic Conference Committee, Jaleswari Pramodhawardhani, suspected government intervention with UI, leading to the sudden ban on the National Consolidation of the Republic Conference on the UI Campus in Salemba.
The suspicion arose because UI had previously granted permission to use its campus for the Republic Conference. "I will not comment on it. But there is that tendency (government intervention) because initially UI was very welcoming," she said at the UI Campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Jaleswari said that UI cited the committee for not fulfilling the administrative procedures. "Yet, we have fulfilled the procedures," she stated.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, UI had already issued a permit to use the campus facilities in the form of an official assignment letter. "We interpreted the letter as being received," she said.
Three members of the Republic Conference Committee mentioned that the change in UI's stance occurred after President Prabowo Subianto provided briefings to the rectors at an event titled 'National Deliberation: Strategies for Indonesia's Economic Independence and Welfare' at JCC, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, June 26, 2026.
During the event, Prabowo provided briefings for 5 hours. However, the briefings were closed after 30 minutes of speaking.
Two members of the Republic Conference Committee, who knew the reason for the ban, shared that Prabowo asked the rectors to ensure the campus's safety.
Another member of the Republic Conference Committee stated that the UI Rector received phone calls from various parties, including from the Presidential Palace, regarding this event. They requested UI to reconsider permitting this event.
A member of the University of Indonesia (UI) Board of Trustees, representing the Students, Razaan Bayu Rachman, stated that UI was indeed repeatedly called by external parties. However, he did not know who these external parties were. Nor could he confirm if they asked for the event to be banned.
"Specifically, they did not ask for that. But implicitly. I suspect that the externals were disturbed because it was considered a mass consolidation and had a strong political element," he said at the UI Campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
He admitted to communicating with UI Rector Heri Hermansyah before the event. He said that Heri did not prohibit the Republic Conference event. "The UI Rector only questioned it because many questions were raised by external parties," he said.
However, the UI Rector could not supervise directly as he was on a foreign mission. Therefore, he suspected that UI was influenced by external parties. "So, I emphasize that there was no intervention from the campus. But externally to UI," he said.
Regarding this matter, UI's Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International Erwin Agustian Panigoro stated that UI is preparing a response. Meanwhile, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi has not responded yet.
Dian Rahma Fika Alnina and Hendrik Yaputra contributed to writing this article.
Read: Republic Conference Outlines Movement Goals in Cikini
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