Since his student days, Anies has been known as a student leader who is broad-minded, patient and euipped with good negotiation skills. However, when leading a demonstration, Anies transpired into an accomplished orator, capable of agitating his masses and frightening his opponents. The other side of Anies’ quality is now more prominent.
Since his student days, Anies has been known as a student leader who is broad-minded, patient and euipped with good negotiation skills. However, when leading a demonstration, Anies transpired into an accomplished orator, capable of agitating his masses and frightening his opponents. The other side of Anies’ quality is now more prominent.
AT that time, Anies Baswedan was no longer Chairman of the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Senate. But Anies still had influence in the student movement in Yogyakarta, and was present in various demonstrations.
In people’s rejection of SDSB cum gambling donations, Anies participated in planning student demonstrations that were supported by the people. He invited his friends to mobilize the masses.
Inevitably thousands of people filled the entrance, boulevard, UGM Student Center, and its surroundings. Then they continue the long march to the local council building which is located on Jalan Malioboro. At that time the calendar showed in November 1993.
Elan Satriawan, Secretary General of BEM UGM 92/93 and General Chair of the UGM Student Senate 93/94, said that the long march was the longest. Maybe up to more than a kilometer length. The participants were not only students, various elements of society also mingled.
“At that time, we had a long march from the UGM Roundabout to the DPRD in Malioboro. Not just students. But various other elements of society also joined in the long march,” said Elan in a video broadcast received by KBA News, Saturday, April 16, 2022.
According to him, many people were convinced at that time Anies was a soft person. But when he takes to the street leading the demo, you would see a different kind of Anies.”He appeared on the podium, he moved the crowd, he then faced soldiers who once again showed another side of Anies,” he added.
So far, according to Elan, he and his friends have seen Anies from a chairman of the UGM Student Senate who leads intra-campus activists. But during a demonstration against SDSB, Elan and his friends saw an Anies who then appeared with his qualifications.
Sidik Jatmiko, UGM student, stringer/reporter for BBC London, described how Anies was dealing with security forces and was able to negotiate well, who had previously been threatened students not to leave the campus.
“At that time, Anies was told by the security forces, ‘You are not allowed to leave the campus, disturbing the traffic’. If you dare to leave campus, we will brush you off,” Sidik imitated the threat.
Well, that’s where Anies’ intelligence is. Sidik said, Anies was a student leader who at that time had negotiation skills.
According to Sidik, Anies is cool, well-versed, calm person, then he can express his opinion with clear words. But also at the same time he is very respectful, still respects the other person.
“It’s not easy. Many people express aspirations but then with emotion. Anies’ strength is that he is able to negotiate fairly calmly,” he added.
Sidik added that what Anies meant was clear. Then you can negotiate anything, the important thing is that the final goal is achieved. And, everything can take place in an orderly manner.
Well, what happened later, the demonstration that was originally full of tension was then allowed. “Okay, you can leave the UGM campus but you have to be orderly,” said Sidik, imitating what the security forces said.
As a result, even though he was escorted by the police and facilitated by trucks, Anies was still able to make speeches along the way. He rides in an open tub and can make speeches using a megaphone.
Actually, what is SDSB and how deep is its impact on society so that students and elements of society then oppose it?
Still in the same video, Rimawan Pradibtyo, a student of UGM 92/93, said that he distributed around 11 SDSB coupons to students.
“They said, ‘What is this sir?’ This is authentic evidence that this country has legalized gambling,” said Rimawan.
Rimawan slickly illustrates the situation and condition of people who have become addicted to the so-called SDSB.
“If there is an accident, people flock to come. Don’t expect to help, what you will see is if there is a bus going into a ravine, people will go in there. What is seen first, people will see the number plate,” he said.
Similarly, Elan Satriawan said that the SDSB at that time made people do a lot of things that didn’t make sense.
“So SDSB at that time the reason to collect funds to use it to finance sport activities,” he added.
Salman Dianda Anwar, Deputy Chairman of BEM 92/93, added that the SDSB caused unrest. There were often quarrels between families, until it became a national issue at that time.
“At that time we caught this aspiration from the community, then under the leadership of the Student Senate, Mas Anies tried to address this issue,” said Salman.
Anies participated in planning the demonstration against the SDSB. In addition to inviting his friends to mobilize the masses, Anies also participated in the speech and observed the situation during the demonstration.
Muhammad Husnil in the book “When Anies Baswedan Leads: Motivating, Inspiring (2017)”, states if an orator burns the masses, Anies will step up and calm the masses.
“He invites the masses to prioritize rationality and intellect rather than emotion,” he added.
Husnil said that the demonstration against SDSB had stopped for a moment for Friday prayers. After that, they walked to Malioboro with the army and police escorted.
Once they arrived in front of the DPRD Building, they gave speeches again. Anies and the mass leaders asked to meet with the people’s representatives. They demanded that the representatives of the people convey to the government to dissolve the SDSB.
A few days later, Anies invited his friends in the Yogyakarta Islamic Community Movement (GMIY) to join a demonstration against SDSB in Jakarta. Arriving in Jakarta, they met with the Jakarta Islamic Student Communication Forum (FKMIJ) and the Bandung Islamic Student Association (PMIB).
Similar demands were also made by a number of groups in various regions. Because of such strong pressure, the government finally dissolved the SDSB on November 25, 1993.
SDSB is another form of various lotteries that have emerged since the late 1960s, from the Totalizer Lottery (Lotto), Hope Lottery, Social Contribution with Prizes (SSB), Sports and Dexterity Week (Porkas) to Prized Sports Contribution Coupons (KSOB).
All contain elements of gambling because it gives false hope. It cradled many people, including small people such as pedicab drivers and farm laborers. It made them hope to be rich without having to work hard.
No wonder if Anies and his students friends rejected it. (kba)