On July 7, 2024, dozens of students from the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) clashed with police outside the Lumajang Regent’s Office. 

Students planned to march to the Lumajang Regent’s Office to call for the resignation of two government officials in response to the Lumajang government’s decision on July 1, 2024 to stop providing allowances to the region’s over 8000 contractual teachers. Police officers blocked students at the gate of the Lumajang Regency building. Students and police began shoving each other forcefully, nearly tearing down the gate. To disperse the crowd, police fired water cannons several times at students. Demonstrators were also seen throwing objects such as trash cans and billboards at the police. One student was reportedly injured. 

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students must also refrain from violence. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:

*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
Tribunnews
https://www.pantura7.com/2024/07/05/demo-tolak-penghapusan-tunjangan-guru-honorer-pmii-lumajang-bentrok-dengan-aparat/
https://jatim-timur.tribunnews.com/2024/07/05/demo-tunjangan-guru-honorer-dihapus-di-lumajang-ricuh
https://surabaya.kompas.com/read/2024/07/05/131018178/massa-bakar-keranda-bergambar-pj-bupati-dan-sekda-saat-demo-tolak?page=all#google_vignette