MEDAN – A unified coalition of students from South Labuhanbatu (Labusel) staged a fierce “Volume 3” protest in front of the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Sumut) and the North Sumatra Regional Police Headquarters (Polda Sumut) on Monday, July 6, 2026.
The demonstrators strongly urged authorities to investigate the Labusel Regent and involved officials over alleged bribery for job promotions, corruption in a IDR 36 billion bridge construction project, and the deliberate delay of local village head elections (Pilkades).
Action Coordinator Amiruddin Siregar, S.H., demanded that the High Prosecutor’s Office stop relying on empty rhetoric (omon-omon) and take decisive action against rampant corruption within the South Labuhanbatu regency government.
“This is our third rally, yet the Governor of North Sumatra, the High Prosecutor, and the Regional Police Chief have shown zero firm action,” Siregar stated alongside several regional student organization leaders. “It is time for the newly appointed Chief of Kejati Sumut to show his teeth and prove his commitment to eradicating graft, rather than letting the institution weaken under new leadership.”
The coalition threatened to escalate the case to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK RI) in Jakarta if local authorities failed to respond within $3 \times 24$ hours.
The 7 Core Demands Demanded by the Coalition:
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KPK Wealth Audit: The students challenged the KPK to look beyond Langkat Regency and audit the wealth accumulated by the Labusel Regent during his first year in office, in compliance with Law No. 14/2008 on Public Information Openness.
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Bridge Project Probe: A thorough investigation into the IDR 36 billion main bridge construction project in Kota Pinang, Labusel.
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Police Transparency on Sting Operation (OTT): Transparency from the North Sumatra Police regarding a previous sting operation at the Labusel Health Agency, where suspects were mysteriously released without further legal follow-up.
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Education Agency Procurement: Immediate investigation into the procurement budgeting for school books and uniforms under the Labusel Education Agency.
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Operational Vehicles & District Budgets: An audit regarding the procurement of 5 official operational vehicles distributed to 5 local sector police chiefs (Kapolsek), alongside a total review of the Labusel government’s budget packages.
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IDR 25 Billion Grant Audit: Investigation into an allegedly misplaced IDR 25 billion grant from the PUPR Agency, noting that local infrastructure remains severely damaged despite online “buzzers” praising the project.
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Ultimatum to Authorities: A strict 72-hour deadline for local law enforcement to process these demands, failing which the students will march directly to the KPK headquarters in Jakarta.
The ongoing protests by the Labusel Student Coalition highlight a deepening crisis of governance and public accountability in the South Labuhanbatu Regency. Observers note that the allegations regarding bribery for official positions (jual beli jabatan) represent a systemic failure in bureaucratic meritocracy, which frequently cripples public service delivery.
The friction surrounding the IDR 25 billion PUPR grant points to a growing digital-age conflict in regional politics. While grassroots communities complain about severely damaged roads and incomplete public facilities, coordinated online narratives—often driven by social media “buzzers”—have sought to paint a contrasting picture of progress. This disparity has only fueled public suspicion regarding budget misallocation.
With a recently appointed Chief of the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office, political analysts view this case as a crucial litmus test. How the prosecutor’s office handles the 72-hour ultimatum delivered by the students will signal whether regional law enforcement is truly prepared to combat high-level political corruption or if public skepticism will continue to rise.
