Students Protest Against MBG, Threaten to Bring Crowds and Poisoning Victims to Papua Barat Daya Governor's Office

SORONG, KOMPAS.com - Dozens of students from the Independent Forum of West Papua KPK Sorong Raya staged a protest against the Free Nutritious Food (MBG) program in front of the Papua Barat Daya Governor's Office on Monday (9/21/2026).

The demonstration was sparked by a suspected poisoning case involving 26 students and five teachers at SMP Muhammadiyah Al Amin in Sorong City a while ago.

The protesters conducted a long march from Sorong City area to the Papua Barat Daya Governor’s Office. Upon arrival, they burned used tires while delivering speeches and holding several posters rejecting the MBG program.

One poster read: "Prabowo, Stop Using the People as Guinea Pigs for Poisonous MBG," "MBG Poisoning = Trauma and Children Afraid to Go to School," and "We Need Proper School Buildings, Not Poisonous Plates and Spoiled Food."

Yosepus Nauw, the coordinator of the 'Reject MBG' protest, said the action was a form of protest against the MBG program’s implementation as well as a response to the suspected poisoning at SMP Muhammadiyah Al Amin.

"This is also our response to that case, but unfortunately there has been no satisfactory response as expected by our friends. We are very disappointed, but we will come down again with a much larger crowd and in a different manner," Yosepus said.

He even issued an ultimatum to the regional government to take responsibility if there are more victims due to the program.

"If anything happens, they will be held accountable," he added.

According to Yosepus, they chose to approach the governor’s office because the governor is seen as the extension of the central government in the region, while the vice governor also serves as the Chair of the MBG Task Force in Papua Barat Daya.

However, during the protest, neither the Governor nor the Vice Governor of Papua Barat Daya were present.

"But our target is not just those two; our purpose is to reach the vice governor who currently serves as the executor or Chair of the Regional Nutrition Body in the Papua Barat Daya Province," he explained.

Yosepus said they would hold another protest with a bigger crowd if their demands are not met.

"And if there are more poisoning victims, we will come back in a different way and bring the bodies to the front. The Governor himself, as the extension of the central government, and the Vice Governor as Head of the Nutrition Agency or MBG Task Force in Papua Barat Daya Province must be held responsible," he emphasized.

Responding to the protest, Ahmad Nausrau, Chair of the MBG Task Force in Papua Barat Daya, said the task force accepts the aspirations conveyed by the public, but they do not have the authority to halt the program.

"As the MBG Task Force team in Papua Barat Daya, we only acknowledge the aspirations, input, and main ideas from the community. However, the task force does not have the authority to make decisions," Ahmad said.