Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – The Indonesian diaspora scattered across 23 countries held the Indonesia Bergerak (Indonesia Moves) Congress virtually on Sunday night, Indonesian time, October 26, 2025, to commemorate the Youth Pledge.
The facilitator of the Indonesia Bergerak Congress, Ulya Niami Jamson, stated that the congress was born out of concerns about various injustices in Indonesia. Consisting of students, workers, and Indonesian citizens, the diaspora felt compelled to show solidarity with civil movements in the homeland. "We want Indonesia to return to being a nation that is independent, democratic, prosperous, and just," said Pipin, Ulya's nickname, to Tempo on Monday, October 27, 2025.
A total of 85 participants attended the nearly three-hour congress. They drafted the Indonesia Bergerak Declaration by collecting input from participants. One of the highlights of the declaration is the rejection of the return of military involvement in civilian matters and the seizure of civilian control. Additionally, the congress aims to restore the people's sovereignty over freedom of expression, culture, art, and pro-people press freedom.
Pipin stated that the declaration will be distributed to various countries that serve as the base for the International Committee of Indonesia Bergerak. Pipin explained that the Youth Pledge marked the awakening of youth and people's movements against oppression and injustice in the pre-independence era.
The International Committee of Indonesia Bergerak, Pipin said, is committed to building a movement in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the Youth Pledge in 2028. This commemoration provides an opportunity to develop narratives of change for a more democratic, prosperous, equal, and socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable Indonesia.
Ucu Martanto, a student at the University of Melbourne, said Indonesia has been moving present in many countries since the Indonesian Emergency momentum in August 2024. This movement then responded to various socio-political situations, such as "Dark Indonesia" in February to March 2025, and "Reset Indonesia" in August to September 2025. The diaspora continuously follows the developments in Indonesia. "We want to bring back the spirit of the Indonesian people's uprising to strive for a better future for the nation," he said.
Members of the International Committee of Indonesia Moving will hold cultural speeches on the importance of the youth's role in voicing the people's aspirations in Melbourne. They also plan to symbolically hand over the Indonesia Moving Declaration to the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Melbourne for it to be conveyed to the Indonesian government.