Pati residents hold big demonstration, demand Regent Sudewo resign and will there be a volume II demonstration?
Source: tempo.co
Thousands of residents of Pati Regency held a demonstration in front of the Pati Regent’s Office on Wednesday (13/8/2025). The anarchistic demonstration demanded that the Regent of Pati, Sudewo, resign from his position.
The action was triggered by the policy of increasing land and building tax (PBB) by up to 250%. This policy was considered burdensome for the residents, although Sudewo argued that the move was necessary to increase local revenue to improve road infrastructure and public services. He said that the PBB in Pati has never increased in the last 14 years.
Although on Friday (8/8) Regent Sudewo announced the cancellation of the PBB-P2 increase and apologised, the decision did not quell public anger.
Sudewo’s previous statement actually fuelled people’s emotions. Through the official Instagram account of the Pati Regency Government (@pemkabpati_), he said that people were welcome to continue their demonstrations.
“I apologise profusely for my statement, 5,000 please, 50,000 masses please. I do not challenge the people, there is absolutely no intention to challenge the people, Is it really my people I’m challenging” said Sudewo.
After receiving input from various parties, including Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi, Sudewo reiterated that he did not intend to challenge the people. However, the clarification did not stop the protests.
Based on data from the action committee, around 25,000 people participated in the 13 August demonstration. To secure the action, a total of 2,684 joint personnel from 14 police stations, the TNI, and related agencies were deployed.
The five main demands of the residents are:
1.Urging Regent Sudewo to resign from his position.
2.Rejecting the implementation of the five-day school system.
3.Rejecting the renovation of Alun-alun Pati with a budget of Rp2 billion.
4.Rejecting the total demolition of Alun-alun Pati Mosque which has historical value.
5.Questioning the videotron project worth Rp1.39 billion.
The action coordinator, Ahmad Husein, said the demonstration would not stop on 13 August. The United East Pati Community Alliance plans to hold another demonstration on Monday (25/8/2025). The follow-up action will be centred in front of the Regent’s Office and the Pati Regency DPRD Office. According to Mr Husein, the number of people is expected to be larger than the first demonstration.
“The demand is to immediately impeach Sudewo. We ask for the inquiry right to be accelerated,” said Mr Husein on Tuesday (19/8), as quoted by JPNN Central Java.
However, Ahmad Husein cancelled volume II of the demonstration after he met via video call with Regent Sudewo in the evening. Husein stated that Sudewo had listened to his aspirations and no longer demanded the resignation of the Regent’s responsibilities.
Regarding the demonstration, the United Pati Community Alliance stated that it was not their plan but the initiation of Ahmad Husein himself.
Although Husein has resigned and no longer interferes, the United Pati Community Alliance still continues to oversee the inquiry right process carried out by the special committee of the Pati DPRD on Dudewo’s leadership, not only that, the community has also established a complaint post near the Pati DPRD building since Monday (18/8) yesterday. The post was set up to collect reports and aspirations from the community.
News Source: tirto.id
|
Writer: Naufal Ahmad Alfian
Editor: Rizaldy Mujiburrahman
