What Does Prabowo Mean by 'Academic Freedom' on Campus?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian Deputy State Secretary Minister Juri Ardiantoro said President Prabowo Subianto respects academic freedom in universities but believes that such freedom must remain grounded in scholarly principles and accountability.

Juri's statement came in response to Prabowo's recent remarks that universities in Indonesia have “academic freedom, not other freedoms,” which sparked discussion about the scope of freedom on campuses.

"The President has always conveyed that campuses have academic freedom. Everyone knows this, it does not need to be disputed. The President fully understands and appreciates academic freedom in universities," Juri said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday, June 29, 2026.

According to Juri, Prabowo's main point was that academic freedom must be accompanied by responsibility and must align with academic values in higher education.

"As long as it can be academically accountable, then freedom on campus is legitimate and permissible," Juri said.

He explained that the government's concern lies not with academic freedom itself, but with activities carried out in the name of freedom that may not reflect scholarly standards.

"The question is whether the freedoms exercised by various groups on campus truly represent academic freedom or are completely unrelated to scholarly values. That is what needs to be noted," he said.

Prabowo previously addressed the issue of freedom in universities during his speech at the Science, Technology, and Industry Convention on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

"Academic freedom, not other freedoms"

In his speech, Prabowo compared Indonesia to passengers traveling on a large ship, saying that differences of opinion among those on board are natural and should not become a problem.

He said universities are spaces where debates and differences of thought are expected to occur.

"The university is a place where ideas are debated. The clash of ideas, clash of viewpoints, clash of philosophies, clash of innovations," Prabowo said in Jakarta.

The former defense minister under President Joko Widodo said such differences are part of academic freedom. However, he emphasized that academic freedom does not extend to forms of freedom unrelated to academic purposes.

"It is stated there that campuses have academic freedom. Academic freedom, not other freedoms," Prabowo said.

Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.

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