The response to policies that continue to deprive people in general of their rights was welcomed by the Sovereign People's Committee (KERABAT) by holding a demonstration that coincided with International Labor Day. This action led to repressive actions against Gunung Sari UNM students.

“After finishing the action, we went down in front of the UNM campus, we saw several groups of protesters who were not part of us burning tires. We still entered the campus and dispersed ourselves, “said from the direct testimony of Ical, a UNM student.

The Alliance of Sovereign People's Committees took action since 01:00 WITA at the flyover and in front of the South Sulawesi Provincial DPRD Office.

The action went peacefully until 17:00 WITA. The demonstration ended with the reading of a statement of attitudes and demands by the head of the group followed by the mass alliance of the Sovereign People's Committee (KERABAT).

The action mass from BEM FIS-H, which previously joined the demonstration at the Flyover and at the South Sulawesi Provincial DPRD Office, then separated themselves from the other KERABAT alliance action masses and made a long march to the Makassar State University Campus (UNM) Gunung Sari. Then after the action mass of BEM Faculty of Sociology-Law (FIS-H) arrived on campus, several unknown people and not the action mass burned tires in front of the UNM gate on Jalan Pendidikan.

Because they were not part of the mass action, all friends from BEM FIS-H ignored this and went straight to their respective institutional secretariats. At around 18.50 there were several tear gas shots fired into the campus, these shots were followed by the invasion of dozens of armed officers in full uniform. They then conducted a sweep by forcing their way into the rooms of the Student Organization Secretariat. The officers even broke down one of the lecture room doors until it was damaged.

“Before entering the campus, a group of police officers fired tear gas about 4 times. After that they entered and forcibly arrested students who were in the BEM FIS-H Secretariat including the secretariat of the Association Institution,” Ical added.

When sweeping, the armed forces hit, slapped, kicked each student randomly who was indicated to have burned tires. This was done to make some of the students bruised and bleeding.

“When we wanted to enter the campus, we already saw tires burning in front of the campus. This means that the reason for the police to enter the campus is an unreasonable action that says that it is the work of BEM FIS-H students, so they dare to enter the campus to invade the secretariat of the student body,” said Bintang as Chairman of BEM FIS-H.

Some students were also beaten using clubs. A total of 43 FIS-H BEM students and Faculty of Economics students were then gathered in front of the FIS-H parking lot. Students were forced to undress, one by one their hair was pulled and faces were forcibly photographed. They were asked for their identity, cell phone number, address and threatened to be reported to the University.

“The actions taken by the Police are against the law, entering the campus, committing various acts of violence, arresting students randomly reflects the unprofessional actions of the Police. The firing of tear gas towards the campus is also an excessive use of force,” continued Hasbi Asiddiq as LBH Makassar's legal counsel.

This excessive use of force should certainly be condemned, especially since the campus is an area that must be protected as an educational institution and a safe space from acts of violence. Police officers must certainly have clear reasons and have accurate calculations which of course must be based on the law, by not overstepping legal provisions.

We demand the South Sulawesi Regional Police to evaluate the officers involved in security. All those who used excessive force to beat students must be held accountable for their actions. This is important so that the incident does not recur,” Hasbi concluded.