Jakarta, iNBrita.com – July 2, 2025 A public hearing at the Indonesian Parliament was briefly disrupted on Tuesday, July 2, 2025. The protest occurred during a session between Commission X and Culture Minister Fadli Zon. A civil society group voiced concern over the Ministry’s plan to revise the national historical narrative.
According to Tempo, several protesters were seated in the upper balcony of the meeting room. They displayed a black banner that read, “Resolve Serious Human Rights Violation Cases.” Shortly after parliamentary factions responded to the minister’s remarks, the protest began.
“Stop whitewashing history!” the group shouted. As a result, the session came to a temporary halt. Protesters urged the government to hear victims’ voices. In addition, they rejected any plan to name former President Soeharto a national hero.
Deputy Chair of Commission X, Lalu Hardian Irfani, quickly addressed the interruption. He asked protesters to remain calm and instructed security to step in. “That’s enough. Please return to your seats. Security, please handle this,” he said.
Security then escorted the group out of the meeting room. However, a brief scuffle occurred when officers attempted to confiscate protest materials. Eventually, the situation was brought under control. The meeting resumed shortly after.
Although the main agenda focused on the Ministry’s 2025 state budget, lawmakers also responded to growing public concerns over the historical revision project.(***)
