Aksi Kamisan Yogyakarta is a non-violent public action that has been held every Thursday (Kamisan in Indonesian) at Tugu Yogyakarta since 2013.
The action effectively delivers messages and changes the government’s and the public’s perception of human rights issues. Regularly held in the public space of Tugu Yogyakarta, it reflects the interaction and social dynamics occurring within the community.
A team of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in the Student Creativity Program in Social Sciences and Humanities Research (PKM-RSH) consisting of Pradipta Arya Arsensa (Political Science 2022), Caecilia Ega Sanjaya (International Relations 2022), Chiara Adelia Maria Dewanti (International Relations 2022), and Alma Sophia (International Relations 2022) investigated Aksi Kamisan Yogyakarta’s use of public space at Tugu Yogyakarta. The research focused on evaluating how Aksi Kamisan employs this space for human rights advocacy and the effectiveness of these strategies in engaging the public and addressing human rights issues.
Supervised by Dr. Suci Lestari Yuana, a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), the team explored Aksi Kamisan Yogyakarta’s strategies for utilizing the Tugu Yogyakarta public space. This historic icon is not only a symbol of the city but also a place for dynamic and democratic activities.
“We aim to delve deeper into how this public space can be effectively utilized for human rights advocacy,” said Pradipta Arya Arsensa, the team leader, on Sunday (Aug. 4).
The team conducted surveys for Aksi Kamisan participants and residents, participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and literature and local archives analysis.
“We strive to understand how non-violent methods are applied in the local context and their impact on public participation and social change,” Arsensa explained.
The UGM team found that out of Gene Sharp’s 198 non-violent methods, at least eight were used in this action, including public speeches, slogans and symbols, and art and music performances.
“These non-violent methods effectively deliver messages and change the government’s perception of human rights issues. We observed increased transparency in legal processes as a positive impact of this action,” said Caecilia Ega Sanjaya, another team member.
The research indicated that the most effective non-violent methods in Aksi Kamisan are public speeches, black clothing symbols, and art performances. These methods successfully attracted public attention and raised awareness about human rights issues.
“Additionally, this action creates an inclusive discussion space where various community groups can actively advocate for their rights,” Sanjaya added.
However, the study also revealed challenges in utilizing Tugu Yogyakarta’s public space, such as infrastructure limitations and regulations on banner placement.
“We had to be creative in using the available space and adhere to existing regulations. These challenges pushed us to find innovative solutions,” said Chiara Adelia Maria Dewanti.
According to Alma Sophia, she and the team provided strategic recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of Aksi Kamisan Yogyakarta by inviting relevant stakeholders to discuss the issues raised, enabling constructive two-way dialogue.
The four-month research produced a report on academic articles and various social media outputs through the account @pkmrshugm.kamisan. Using a qualitative approach, the team successfully analyzed and formulated innovative and responsive strategies for public space utilization to meet community needs.
This research is expected to serve as a reference for academics, practitioners, and the government in understanding and optimizing public space utilization for effective and inclusive advocacy actions.
“Thus, Tugu Yogyakarta not only remains a symbol of history but also becomes a center of social dynamics supporting democracy and human rights,” Sophia concluded.
Author: Dita
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: Radar Jogja
Post-editor: Afif